Supercars Championship: 2026 Townsville 500 Race 21 Report | Payne wins dominantly in Townsville
- Tayla Purves
- 4 hours ago
- 6 min read
Photo credit: Matthew Payne Instagram
The fastest qualifier was named this morning, Brodie Kostecki leading the field with a spectacular 1:12.662. Right behind him is Matthew Payne by only 0.1086.
On the second row is Thomas Randle and Ryan Wood, both showing promising pace for the race ahead.
This afternoon's race will be a longer stint, 68 Laps in total will be done over the course of two hours in considerably mild heat.
As it happens
Kostecki and Payne both got away brilliantly down to Turn 1, Randle proving to be a threat early on as he places his No.55 Castrol Mustang in contention for second position; later falling in behind the No.19 Penrite Mustang.
James Golding's No.7 Mustang bellowing smoke as they head around the track for the first time, the damage significant as he swivels from a rear tyre going - diving into the lane. The damage caused by a hit up the rear allegedly from teammate, Aaron Cameron; this weekend seemingly an unlucky stint for the team.
Lap 4, Ryan Wood emerges on the radio complaining of slow race pace - concerning due to the prematurity in Race 21 after what was a chaotic start.
Come Lap 7, David Reynolds had a small throttle issue earlier on, which is believed to be operating as it should for now, the team hoping more issues aren't to arise as the race unfolds. Reynold's is now up inside the top ten, his race pace looking positive thus far.
Lap 9 the door was almost open just enough for Will Brown, Kai Allen just keeping the position for now.
More chaos for the Ford clan arises for Randle, a tyre alarm going off - the team saying to ignore it's a faulty alarm warning as the field begin to save fuel.
Stewards handed out a 5-second time penalty for weaving on the track and gaining advantage for car No.5, Reuben Goodall's manoeuvre earlier being penalised effectively.
Lap 12, Zach Bates came into contact with Jackson Walls and Goodall, the No.5 Mustang assisting car No.10 around.
Cameron and Jack Le Brocq going side by side past Rylan Gray's No.38 Shell V Power Mustang, earning themselves a Fire Ball Fire Pass mention.
The Allen versus Allen battle reignites on Lap 14, the No.888 Red Bull Mustang looking rather racey and one to expect some serious moves as the race develops.
Stewards imposed a 15-second time penalty to Goodall in car No.5, giving the wild card entrant a hefty time penalty to serve during a pit stop.
Brown dives down the right hand side of Allen through Turn 12, the Red Bull failing to get the move done; Allen's defensive race craft applaudable and aggressive enough to keep his position.
Chaz Mostert's radio buzzed alive, the team asking if he would suit clean air conditions, hinting to an early pit stop in the race, if the perfect window can be found.
Rookie Goodall seems to be catching Heimgartner on Lap 18, the elbows certainly out and about during his very first solo run in the main game.
Lap 20 brings the first stop of the race, Payne coming into the lane - taking two left tyres and fuel, with Mostert in the lane taking fuel and four new tyres, giving ample opportunity for clean air to pay off, effectively opening the pit window.
Kostecki comes into the lane on Lap 20 as well, reacting to Payne, the team hoping to cover off the No.19 Mustang. Four tyres and fuel - his left rear cross threaded and became time costly for track position; a 20.01 stop seen at the Dick Johnson Racing Shell V Power camp, a frustrated Kostecki seen shaking his head as he waited.
Feeney exits the lane with Kostecki, both hopping out just in front of Mostert. The reigning championship bringing fears of an issue within commentary.
Lap 21, Cameron Hill's car looking worse for wear as the drill is brought out to undo body work damage.
Lap 24, Wood and Kostecki come face to face as the No.17 Mustang pushes his way through, while behind Feeney only just holds onto his position over Mostert, the No.1 Toyota Supra not yet giving up as their battle just begins.
Fuel saving strategies have since come into play for those who have already pitted, the race beginning to unfold as a Supercars train began to form on Lap 29.
Lap 31, the field cinch closer to one another, the gaps between each slowly becoming less and less with each turn.
Lap 32, Kostecki goes side by side with Wood, keeping his position ahead of the No.2 Toyota Supra, a new battle beginning mid-race.
The field remained calm until Lap 36, Anton De Pasquale finding some serious pace as he kept close to the rear of Wood, making a move down the inside and making his way into the top five of the race.
De Pasquale kept his performance clear as he took down an angry Kostecki, the No.18 Chevrolet Camaro looking quick towards the No.6 Monster Energy Mustang; the radio communications seeming to have an issue once again for Waters.
Blanchard Racing Team have suffered a fuel churn leak, the team working to amend the issue in pit lane, seeking permission from Supercars administration to use only one churn for two cars.
A four car battle has erupted on Lap 41, the two Bull's looking to make a move on Allen and Wood, Brown successful in his defence - Mostert looking eager to take advantage behind Feeney.
Allen and Wood come together awkwardly as Feeney and Mostert fly by, Wood getting caught momentarily in the grass with steering damage, Allen heading into the lane - refuelling and taking tyres.
Wood's car has been pulled into the garage on Lap 43, the No.2 Toyota Supra needing a bit of TLC to get back out on track and gain points for the team, the team's championship vital for Penrite Racing this weekend. A right front steering arm needing to be replaced.
De Pasquale seeming on fire today, overtaking Randle and now just eleven seconds behind the race leader Payne on the same lap as the previous chaos.
Brown opens the second pit window on Lap 44, the strategy game well and truly in play; Red Bull have not had a podium in four races.
The field followed suit over ten laps, getting their second stops done as the end of the race becomes near.
Lap 51, Goodall takes his second stop, Bates left to make his final pit stop of the race, Payne eagerly coming up to his rear to take the lead once again.
Wood back on track frantically tries to get out of the way of Golding, the No.2 Toyota Supra now eight laps down.
De Pasquale and Randle are again battling for position, the No.18 Chevrolet Camaro tyres just five laps younger than Randle's, his speed undeniable as he goes down the inside of the No.55 Mustang, sights set for second ahead currently occupied by Kostecki.
De Pasquale on Lap 55 gets the job done on Kostecki, the No.17 Mustang not putting up a fight with thirteen laps to go until the chequered flag - the No.18 Chevrolet Camaro through to second position and left to chase down Waters ahead by ten seconds.
Turn 11 proves to be the turn to use for overtaking, Le Brocq passing Allen and making his way to ninth after starting in twentieth position - his Saturday one for the memory books.
On the exit of Turn 13, Ojeda and Allen have a brisk moment of contact as the No.26 Mustang prevails ahead in eleventh position with seven laps to go.
Further up the field, teammates Randle and Waters begin their own battle, the No.6 Mustang effortlessly takes the position, giving time for Kostecki to attempt to close the gap to De Pasquale - the No.18 Chevrolet Camaro definitely has enough fuel to continue on, however the team suggest he is comfortable where he is - a fourteen second gap behind Payne suggesting fuel saving.
Three laps to go sparked a slightly sassy Payne radio response as he's questioned by his engineer on a slide up in front of the pack, the youngster looking likely to cross the line in first, despite the small mishap from track texture.
Lap 66, Randle comes under fire from Brown, as Golding stays eagerly on the tail of the No.888 Mustang, a Ford free for all beginning to unwind.
Up ahead, De Pasquale begins to come under pressure from a known aggressive Kostecki, their gap under one second as the last lap comes to a close, keeping his position as Payne crosses the line to win Race 21.
The field go racing for the last time in Townsville tomorrow at 3:05pm AEST for Race 22.
The results
Matthew Payne
Anton De Pasquale
Brodie Kostecki
Cam Waters
Thomas Randle
Will Brown
Chaz Mostert
Broc Feeney
Jack Le Brocq
David Reynolds
Jayden Ojeda
Kai Allen
Cooper Murray
Zach Bates
Aaron Cameron
Andre Heimgartner
Rylan Gray
Jackson Walls
Macauley Jones
Jobe Stewart
Declan Fraser
James Golding
Aaron Seton
Reuben Goodall
Cameron Hill
Ryan Wood
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