He couldn't, could he? Five bold Darwin predictions
The 2026 Repco Supercars Championship rolls into Darwin for Supercars' annual Indigenous Round at the betr Darwin Triple Crown.
Hidden Valley has been Chevrolet's playground in the Gen3 era, but with a fleet of Fords leading the way, and Toyota showing plenty of early potential, it won't be easy for the bow ties.
This championship has been wide open, with eight race winners, nine polesitters, and a staggering 14 drivers of 24 already climbing the podium.
As such, this year has been extremely difficult to predict week-by-week, but it also opens up the floor for some wildly bold predictions for the betr Darwin Triple Crown.
Feeney goes winless
We did say these predictions were bold, right? Broc Feeney has been unstoppable in the last two years at Hidden Valley, winning five races out of five and four pole positions. Factor in 2023, and it's six wins of eight, an eye-watering average finish of 1.4 streets ahead of the field. But all of those wins have come in Chevrolets, with Ford yet to win a single race at what is their last Gen3 frontier. Given his dominance to finish Tasmania, we're really putting our necks on the line with this one.
Toyota keep up their winning ways
For all of their New Zealand success, the two long straights of Symmons Plains posed a significantly different challenge for the Toyota engines. It was a challenge that they brushed aside with a level of defiance for two wins out of three. The extreme temperatures of Darwin are another big test for Toyota as they continue their rapid learning process, but both WTWGR and BJR have been strong at Darwin in the past. More wins could make their opposition even more nervy.
Reynolds snaps winless streak
David Reynolds' return to the podium in Tasmania was a popular result, and although he slipped back to the midfield in the final two races, there were still plenty of positives to take away. Team 18 were race winners in 2023 with another popular veteran in Mark Winterbottom, could lightning strike twice? If Tasmania form carries over, there's every chance it can. Reynolds hit a shoey back in 2015 after a Darwin win, who knows what celebrations could come if he won again this year?
Le Brocq jumps back into Finals bubble...
2023 was also a happy year for Jack Le Brocq and Matt Stone Racing, who won the final race of the Triple Crown to cap off a mighty weekend for the underdogs. It was a similarly happy start to this season upon his return, a regular top 10 threat highlighted by a P4 in Melbourne. But, a disastrous Tasmania sunk him down to 11th in points, 68 points off the pace for Finals. However, his memorable performance three years ago is cause for optimism, and we believe he will get himself back inside the 10 with a strong run.
...while Golding falls out
Of course, for Le Brocq to get back in, that means someone needs to make way. Given we believe Toyota could be on the money again, that'll keep 10th-placed Chaz Mostert safe, but we think it's bad news for James Golding. This is a driver who has claimed a pole position in Darwin as recently as 2024, and been a revelation this year, however is coming off his worst weekend of the year in Tasmania. You don't have to miss by much to be nowhere, and that was plain to see last time out. If he and BRT miss the mark again, it could put them in a sticky situation.
The views in this article do not necessarily express the opinions of Supercars, teams or drivers.
