Shell V-Power Racing Team’s Brodie Kostecki has dominated the opening Repco Supercars Championship encounter at Albert Park as support to the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Kostecki led throughout and staved off a late race attack from Penrite Racing’s Matt Payne to take his first victory of the 2026 season.
It was a Ford domination at the front as Kostecki and Payne were trailed by Red Bull Ampol Racing’s Broc Feeney.
Payne’s second place proved important as he snatches the championship lead from Feeney marking the first time Penrite Racing has led the title under the ownership of Grove family.
Following a strong qualifying performance, LIQUIMOLY Blahst Racing’s Aaron Cameron spun off at Turn 3 after being challenged for seventh by Will Brown as he replicated Kai Allen’s moment from earlier in the race.
A safety car was required to allow the removal of Jackson Wall’s SCT Motorsport Mustang from the Turn 11 sand trap, with him dropping a lap in the process.
The restart left little room for Kostecki to make an error and he didn’t to finish 0.468s from Payne, Feeney, James Golding, Chaz Mostert, Cam Waters, Ryan Wood, Brown, Anton De Pasquale in the lead Chevrolet and Cooper Murray.
Race 2 of the weekend is due to start at 5:35pm AEDT Friday.