Supercars Championship: 2026 Ipswich Super 440 Race 26 | Kostecki shows dominant performance in Ipswich
- Tayla Purves
- 47 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Photo Credit: Brodie Kostecki | Instagram
On pole, Matthew Payne with a whopping 1:08.010, Brodie Kostecki behind by just 0.0255 the first row lockout looking to be fiercely quick. Behind are Chaz Mostert and Will Brown, making up the second row.
This weekend is pivotal for the end result of the Drivers Championship, the end of the Repco Sprint Cup set to finish this Sunday.
Hitting the paperclip circuit this weekend in addition to the usual Supercars paddock includes Aaron Seton, Ben Gomersall, and Bayley Hall.
Today's race will be 39 laps and consist of one compulsory pit stop, with strategy calls expected to be anticipated throughout the short race ahead.
As it happens
Kostecki and Payne hit the ground running evenly until Turn 2, with chaos beggining shortly behind as Brown and Mostert come door-to-door, switching spots and giving rough slaps to doors, pushing one another for track dominance.
Finally Turn 5, Mostert gains third, Brown falling in behind - a wild start with chaos, every driver on track clearly aware of the high stakes, the end of the Repco Sprint Cup near; it's game on.
Lap 2, Wood completed a classy move on Heimgartner for twelfth position, the following lap spotting some speckles of very light rain.
The field begin to fall into line, grip becoming better as Kostecki continues to snag the fastest laps, Payne's Penrite Mustang behind with highlighted orange numbers; a battle to watch.
On Lap 6, an early stop of the race highlighted with Jayden Ojeda the first in the pit lane, taking his compulsory stop.
Lap 7, Mostert goes wide at Turn 4, a glimpse of hope for Brown behind - all data reportedly looking good from Walkinshaw TWG Racing after earlier contact on the opening lap, a good sign after fears bubbled of potential suspension damage with the battle earlier.
Lap 9, Mostert sends himself into the pit lane, taking his compulsory stop, the strategy game well into play across the field; taking left front and rear tyres only - the working side tyres at the paperclip circuit. Aggressive strategy calls are to be expected with the championship becoming a main focus for many teams.
A battle looked likely to erupt on Lap 10, Broc Feeney catching Kai Allen. The Queenslander driving the No.88 Red Bull Ampol Mustang is currently second in the Repco Sprint Cup standings; stakes are high as points remain the main goal of the day.
Stewards alerted the field that they had given a 5-second time penalty to car No.777, Declan Fraser awarded the penalty due to an earlier driving infringement on Gomersall.
Lap 14, the Penrite Racing garage looked ready for a quick stop - Allen making his way into the pit lane - the No.26 Penrite Racing Mustang taking left side tyres only; a quick and flawless stop.
Lap 15, more working side tyres replaced for Wood - the field looking a bit more serious as they near the halfway mark.
The next lap, Waters and Macauley Jones jump into the pit lane, taking left front and rears - the tyre degradation clear at this track for the left side of the car; an expected fate due to the nature of harshness, left tyres ultimately the superstar of this circuit.
Lap 18, a back marker gets in between the two leaders - giving Kostecki a bit of breathing room. At this stage, sixteen of the field have not yet pitted.
Payne finally comes in on Lap 19, an undercut not out of the question with their strategy, taking four new tyres. The left rear looking awkward - commentary questioning if it was placed on correctly.
Kostecki comes in, radio message suggesting they are only doing three tyres - both left rear and front, and the right rear tyre replaced - a different strategy apparent.
Lap 20, Allen assists Mostert off the track, Kostecki quickly adding pressure to the young-gun in the No.26 Penrite Mustang, his move a beautiful and inevitable one and done effort. A battle behind with Payne and Mostert, the current championship leader, Payne's rear slipping out slightly as he gets the move done.
Lap 23, Allen recieved a 5-second time penatly for a driving infringement; an outcome of earlier contact with Mostert.
Lap 27, Rylan Gray's No.38 Shell V Power Mustang looks to be sounding sicker and sicker with each lap. a suspected exhaust can issue at hand, with a potential engine replacement in his near future.
Lap 28, Payne comes onto the radio complaining he can't quite match Kostecki at the last corner, Kostecki charging ahead but only by half of a second.
Feeney makes his move on a sick looking Mustang, Gray losing a position - now sitting in seventh.
Feeney continues his assault on Lap 31, going up the inside at the breaking zone in Turn 3, Mostert not quite gathering enough speed to take up a fight for fifth.
Cameron Hill is recognised as the one driver in the field to make the most moves across the race, moving up an impressive eight positions, the Canberran currently in fifteenth with just seven laps remaining.
Feeney marks off a career record nearing the end of the race, beating his previous lap records at Queensland Raceway in pursuit of his teammate ahead.
With five laps to go, Blanchard Racing Team are seen showing a sign to James Golding reading We hear you, suggesting radio communication issues.
As the end of the race nears, Kostecki keeps his speed as he coasts towards the finish line, taking his No.17 Shell V Power Mustang leading him to the top step of the podium - his teammate holding onto seventh position, his car sounding worse for wear; a career best for Gray.
The Full Results
Brodie Kostecki
Matthew Payne
Will Brown
Broc Feeney
Kai Allen
Chaz Mostert
Rylan Gray
Cameron Waters
Ryan Wood
Thomas Randle
James Golding
Andre Heimgartner
Anton De Pasquale
Cooper Murray
Jackson Walls
Aaron Cameron
Jayden Ojeda
Zach Bates
David Reynolds
Jack Le Brocq
Jobe Stewart
Declan Fraser
Macauley Jones
Ben Gomersall
Aaron Seton
Bayley Hall
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