The pit lane order is set for the 2026 Ipswich Super440. Image: InSyde Media
The top four remained steady across the Perth weekend with Grove Racing and Triple Eight fighting it out at the front.
Despite an impressive fightback from Triple Eight, which included a drought-breaking win for Broc Feeney on Saturday followed by a close second place on Sunday, two wins for Matt Payne helped Grove Racing extend its teams’ championship lead to 258 points.
Triple Eight’s return to the rostrum did help the powerhouse squad strengthen its grip on second place, though, with the margin over third-placed Tickford Racing now 527 points.
Walkinshaw TWG Racing held onto fourth in the pit lane order despite a troubled Sunday that saw Ryan Wood retire before the race start with an engine failure.
That, in part, was thanks to a tough weekend for Dick Johnson Racing spearhead Brodie Kostecki.
The 2024 Supercars champion was classified last in Saturday’s opener after clashing with Kai Allen at Turn 1 and ending up in the sand.
Kostecki’s Sunday race was then heavily compromised by a refuelling issue during his first stop, which left him on an undesired three-stop strategy and 12th in the final classification.
As such DJR was jumped by Team 18, which scored two podiums through Anton De Pasquale and a Sunday top 10 for David Reynolds, for fifth in the standings.
DJR was demoted back to sixth, where it had sat heading into Townsville last month.
Another mover was Brad Jones Racing, which reclaimed seventh in the standings at the expense of Matt Stone Racing.
Blanchard Racing Team, PremiAir Racing and Erebus Motorsport retained their ninth, 10th and 11th spots respectively.
Supercars teams’ championship standings after Round 7 (Townsville 500)
Grove Racing – 3455
Triple Eight – 3197
Tickford Racing – 2670
Walkinshaw TWG Racing – 2508
Team 18 – 2407 (up one)
Dick Johnson Racing – 2287 (down one)
Brad Jones Racing (#8 & #14) – 1738 (up one)
Matt Stone Racing – 1722 (down one)
Blanchard Racing Team – 1684
PremiAir Racing – 1577
Erebus Motorsport – 1076
Brad Jones Racing (#96) – 594
Objective Racing – 509