Waters, Triple Eight, Toyota: 5 bold Sydney Supercars predictions

The chequered flag falls in Adelaide, then you blink and we're back into it.

It's race week for the first time in 2026, and the anticipation is at fever pitch.

There is so much change up and down the grid, right at the very top with Triple Eight's move to Ford, and Walkinshaw TWG Racing's new Toyota project.

Making an early statement is imperative, but Sydney Motorsport Park is a hard place to try and do it. With that in mind, we're tipping some eye-catching and wild outcomes this weekend.

Supercars.com has made five bold predictions for the first round of the new season.

Waters continues on with 2025 dominance

Zac: So much change up and down pit lane, yet Tickford Racing remain largely the same year on year. When he's on, Cam Waters is simply unstoppable, as we say last year in Sydney, and over the weekend just gone at the Bathurst 12 Hour. With such continuity, is this the year it all comes together for Waters? We think it'll be a strong start at least.

Toyota snags a podium

James: When we say bold, we mean it. In the first round with the new GR Supra, a Toyota driver will claim a memorable podium finish. Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood are the best bets, but Brad Jones Racing knows its way around pulling off a Sydney Motorsport Park upset or two.

Triple Eight will be on the money

Zac: This perhaps isn't the boldest call we'll ever make, but you can't undersell just how big a change the shift to Ford is for Triple Eight. Not only is it a whole new car and a whole new aero package, it's also new engine program being managed in-house. Throw in a third customer car, and it's a lot to take in. However, they're the benchmark for a reason, success is expected.

Old foes back into it

James: Taking into account the above, with Triple Eight and Toyota on song, we're tipping Broc Feeney and Ryan Wood come close together on the track at some point across the weekend. With 500 kilometres of racing ahead of us, it could very much happen.

A rookie in the top five

James: This year's rookie crop is outstanding, with the last two Super2 champions joining the grid. Rylan Gray, Zach Bates, Jobe Stewart, Jayden Ojeda and Jackson Walls have nothing to lose, and if the planets align, we're backing in a first round top five.

Fans can catch the new look Supercars field on track in Sydney on February 20-22. Tickets, including for the free Friday, are on sale now.