Closest since 2017: Why three-way tustle could be one of the best yet

In his recent Expert Analysis article on Supercars.com, championship-winning engineer turned Supercars data analyst Scott Sinclair picked out his three standout drivers of 2026.

While Broc Feeney, Brodie Kostecki, and Matt Payne might head up the points standings, a deeper dive reveals just how good they've been.

They've all gone about it in different ways, Feeney having the best race finishing average of the three, Payne the best qualifying average, and Kostecki the most wins.

Feeney's race finishing average — removing his Melbourne DNF — is a strong 3.75, ahead of Kostecki on 4.77, and Payne on 5.67.

In qualifying trim, it's Payne leading the way on 3.57, then Kostecki on 4.00, whilst Feeney sits at 5.15, having dominated qualifying in 2025.

No matter what way you look at it, they are the benchmarks everyone needs to beat. However, so evenly matched have they been, that this year is tighter than any other in recent memory.

They've come out of the fourth round of the season effectively line-ball, given there's a minimum of 85 points on offer for the 120km sprints that make up the Saturday card at Super 440s.

Such is the unpredictable nature of the season, that this is the closest the top three have been at this stage of a season since 2017, when Fabian Coulthard, Shane van Gisbergen, and Jamie Whincup were separated by just 22 points.

In fact, such was the competitiveness of 2017, that Scott McLaughlin and Chaz Mostert were only 31 points behind in fourth and fifth, with McLaughlin and Whincup ultimately duelling it out for the title in Newcastle.

Whilst points will be reset after Bathurst when the Finals return, if current trends continue, there's no question that three of Ford's leading lights will continue to push each other to greater heights.

Gaps from first to third: Post-Round 4

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