Golding's verdict on 2026 after Sydney, Melbourne miscues

Per the legendary Dick Johnson, the only thing you get from looking backwards is a sore neck.

That's the mindset adopted by Blanchard Racing Team recruit James Golding, who despite a flying start to 2026, is teetering on the edge of a Finals berth.

Golding burst out of the blocks with pole in Sydney, but after missing out on victory to Broc Feeney and Triple Eight, he ended the weekend with three wheels on his car while sitting third.

After racing to fourth in the Melbourne opener, he clashed with Matt Payne in the penultimate race, and was penalised for his troubles.

Accounting for potential points lost in the two races, Golding could be sitting as high as fifth in the points heading to New Zealand. Instead, he's ninth, just nine points clear of safety.

“We haven't actually had one race that’s gone perfectly. So I think when it all comes together, we'll be on,” the 30-year-old told Supercars.com.

“To be still ninth with those few dramas is a strong start. Just having that speed that we rolled out with at Sydney, being able to continue that at Albert Park bodes well for the rest of the season.”

Ninth is still by far and away Golding's best start to a new Supercars season, besting his 13th after Round 2 in 2023 and 2024.

However, after being told he could be as high as fifth, Golding was then asked how that made him feel. He laughed, replying: “No different.

"It is what it is. I haven't really been thinking about it too much to be honest.”

Golding's build-up to New Zealand featured a flying trip across the Tasman to sample the new Ruapuna circuit. This weekend, he will race in the Mustang Cup at Phillip Island, before lapping a TransAm at Mount Panorama on the Easter weekend.

Including the ITM NZ Double Header, Golding is behind the wheel four weekends straight.

The driver isn't the only thing that is polished: Golding insists BRT itself is flying, despite teammate Aaron Cameron encountering a wasteful start to the year.

BRT's strong start comes amid a new technical alliance with Triple Eight, although Golding is adamant the improved results out of Box Hill are more a product of hard work.

“We're feeling good. From my point of view, I don't feel like there’s been a missing ingredient,” Golding said.

"I think the team's performance internally is what's brought speed out in the cars to build the cars over the off season. Now we’re really getting everything polished so it's as dialled in as possible. We're making sure everything's as good as it can be.

"I think that's really where the performance is coming from rather than necessarily the Triple Eight thing. Obviously it's good to have that base reference, but Will Brown's also got the Triple Eight set-up and he's been struggling a bit.

"I don't think that's necessarily the answer, it’s more our hard work.”

Golding will resume his 2026 campaign at Taupō on April 10-12. Tickets are on sale now.

James Golding Supercars seasons

Results after Round 2

Golding was a co-driver in 2020-21, joined midway through 2022