No teammate pairings qualified for bp Adelaide Grand Final
Rear gunner tactics yet to play out in full through 2026 Finals
Matt Payne, Brodie Kostecki, Broc Feeney, Chaz Mostert the final four
It was one of the biggest dynamics of the 2025 Repco Supercars Finals Series, but 12 months on we are yet to see rear gunners have a major impact on the title fight.
However, that doesn't mean the remaining contenders aren't any less wary of how teammates can impact upon the championship fight in Adelaide, and few are more aware than Broc Feeney.
Last year it was Walkinshaw TWG Racing's Ryan Wood who played rear guard for Chaz Mostert, though Feeney got the better of the Kiwi in a fight for victory in the Saturday race at Adelaide. Then came the controversial opening lap clash in the final race of the season.
That followed Wood's heroic defence of Will Brown at Sandown just a few weeks prior, however despite many anticipating teammates to play a big role at Sandown this year, it didn't come to pass.
As it turned out, that paved the way for the top seven to engage in a battle royale in the opening race, the seven Finalists filling the top seven positions midway through the 250km.
However, with the likes of Will Brown, Kai Allen, and Ryan Wood all out of the hunt and set to throw all their weight behind their teammates' title hopes in Adelaide, as well as Dick Johnson Racing rookie Rylan Gray, all of the ingredients are there for another blockbuster title showdown.
“It's hard. We haven't really seen any teammates get involved so far this year, which has been good, but the racing between the Finalists has been second to none,” Feeney said.
“Like on that Saturday race, one through seven was all us top seven, going you know all at it. So I think the racing's gonna be really hard in Adelaide.
“I think Will can be a great hand. I mean, as I said, I need to win all three races pretty much. If we've got a fast car and we can be one-two on track and Will can, have his elbows out, that'll go a long way for me.”
Unlike 2025, Feeney will be able to call upon his own teammate as a rear gunner, with Will Brown eliminated from title contention after coming out the worst of the Saturday Sandown battle.
The 2024 champion has already vowed to do everything he can to secure his teammate a maiden Supercars title, putting aside his obvious disappointment after what has been a frustrating season.
The team have openly admitted that only getting one car into the 2026 Grand Final was a disappointing outcome, however deep down Feeney knows that it could be an advantage as he fights for championship glory.
“He’s obviously gutted. I'm gutted. The whole team's gutted that we don't have two in the fight," Feeney said.
“But, the full focus now is gonna be on the 88 car, trying to win that championship, and I know Will's got my back in that.”
Triple Eight, Penrite Racing (Matt Payne), Dick Johnson Racing (Brodie Kostecki), and WTWGR (Chaz Mostert) will all have one car each going for the 2026 Repco Supercars Championship crown at the bp Adelaide Grand Final.
