Kostecki overhauls Payne to win chaotic Melbourne sprint

Brodie Kostecki has claimed his second win in as many days at the Melbourne SuperSprint, in a race highlighted by action aplenty at Albert Park.

Kostecki had to fight from behind whilst still battling illness, and was able to put a move on pole sitter Matt Payne to claim victory by half a second, whilst Ryan Wood claimed Toyota's first Supercars podium as chaos broke out behind.

Payne got a dream launch off the front row and immediately checked out from the chasing pack, led by Kostecki, however there was plenty of action further back in the pack.

Zach Bates and Macauley Jones both found themselves facing the wrong way at Turn 3, whilst Will Brown launched a huge move on Cooper Murray at Turn 11, only to put both himself and Murray off the road and into the gravel.

Brown was slapped with 15 seconds for his actions, further compounding what has been a tough start to his first season at the helm of a Ford.

The battle for fourth got heated on Lap 4, as Broc Feeney replicated the move that teammate Brown launched on the opening lap, and escorted Chaz Mostert wide on corner exit at Turn 11.

However, Aaron Cameron was able to capitalise, and stormed his way by last year's title rivals, with the LIQUI MOLY BLAHST Ford storming up to fourth having started back in eighth.

Mostert would fade back through the pack, having picked up steering damage, and would ultimately finish 14th.

At the head of the field, Payne found himself under pressure from Kostecki, who launched a clean move at Turn 11 to claim the lead on Lap 5.

Kostecki, Payne, and an inspired Wood had all cleared out on the pack behind, with the #2 Toyota pulling out to the tune of four seconds over Cameron by the time the battle for fourth had settled down.

The battle for fourth would heat up again on Lap 10, as Feeney locked the rears and careened into the side of Cameron at Turn 13.

The Victorian would hit the Red Bull Ampol Mustang as he attempted to redress, whilst Kai Allen tried to launch up the inside of Cameron at the final corner.

Cameron was unaware and turned down to take the normal racing line, and the pair both spun into the outside wall after making contact, as Feeney sneaked by.

That only opened up Wood's safety buffer in third further, so much so that he fired off at the high-speed Turn 9 and still had more than 10 seconds in hand over Feeney, who would fall behind both Jack Le Brocq and Cam Waters.

Despite having the penalty hanging over his head, Brown was still defending vigorously from Cameron Hill, bringing a swarm of cars including Anton De Pasquale, Andre Heimgartner, and Mostert into the mix.

Hill would tag the rear of Brown at the final corner, pushing a rear guard down onto his left rear tyre, as Heimgartner soared past to lead the group.

But at the head of the field, Kostecki would fend off a late surge from Payne to extend his advantage in the Larry Perkins Trophy battle, whilst Payne extended his championship lead over Feeney.

It was a lonely race for Wood, who claimed Toyota's first podium some 13 seconds ahead of Waters, whilst Allen fought his way back up into fifth, ahead of Le Brocq, Feeney, Thomas Randle, Heimgartner, and De Pasquale.

On track action tomorrow begins with back-to-back Boost Mobile Qualifying sessions at 9:00am and 9:22am, before Race 6 of the 2026 Repco Supercars Championship begins at 5:40pm local time.