Anton De Pasquale captured his second Supercars win of 2026 at the Hidden Valley race in Darwin, outpacing his rivals by a margin of 1.4298 seconds in a safety‑car finish.
De Pasquale Secures Second Victory
Starting third on the grid, De Pasquale executed an early, swift pit stop that allowed him to jump the pole‑winning Tickford Ford Mustang of Cam Waters. Despite a later, longer service for Waters, the Chevrolet‑powered Team 18 car maintained the lead until the safety‑car conclusion.
“We won it in the pits, which was awesome. The boys stepped up when they had to and the car looked after its tyres,” De Pasquale said after traffic opened. He highlighted that early strategy and clean air were crucial to securing the win.
Matt Payne’s Second‑place Fight
Grove Racing’s Matt Payne slipped into second after battling for position from the start. A sticking wheel during his final stop hindered his chase of De Pasquale, and team guidance to conserve fuel prevented him from mounting a challenge in the closing laps.
Payne reflected on a race that likely ended under safety‑car conditions: “I had a feeling it was going to finish under safety car… I just didn’t quite have the pace. Things were a little out of our control.”
The Podium Composition
Cam Waters finished third, keeping the Mustang competitive but unable to threaten the leaders. Waters conceded third to teammate Broc Feeney only after Feeney’s teammate Will Brown dropped out of the top ten with a second stop.
Triple 8’s Kai Allen claimed fourth, while Grove Racing’s rookie Walker Allen made a steady climb from outside the top ten to finish sixth. Walker Allen’s Grove Mustang gained an impressive six positions during the race.
Key Absences and Surprises
Brody Kostecki, dealing with a virus and a back injury, withdrew from the event. Endurance co‑driver Todd Hazelwood stepped into the Dick Johnson Racing Ford, finishing a solid 12th. Thomas Randle also sat out after penalties from an earlier race, and veteran Mark Winterbottom entered the Grid as a replacement driver.
Implications for the Standings
Feeney exited Darwin with 1,390 points, trailing Payne by 15 points. Waters’s performance elevated Tickford’s overall position to third, ahead of Kai Allen, while De Pasquale moved to sixth overall in the championship table.
Upcoming Race in Townsville
The Supercars series will resume its traditional Winter swing in Townsville’s street circuit two weeks later, continuing the season’s progression toward the climax.
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