Is this the 2026 Supercars season's biggest unsung hero?
Ex-Ferrari F1 engineer propels Kai Allen into top eight in 2026
Allen left Round 2 sitting 19th, now eighth heading to New Zealand
Riccardo Corte plucked from Ferrari F1 fold by Penrite Racing
Imagine uprooting your life from your native home and jumping straight into the deep end in Supercars — and getting results straight away.
That’s what Ricciardo Corte is doing, proving Penrite Racing made the right call in signing the Italian.
For all the noise around Grant McPherson’s impeding move to Penrite Racing, new signing Corte has proven one of the finds of the season.
Before taking the reins of the #26 Ford in 2026, Corte was trackside in Adelaide last year, watching Allen and veteran engineer Alistair McVean go to work.
Such has been the immediate impact of Corte, that Allen has already claimed a maiden front row start in 2026, challenging Broc Feeney for victory, before showing supreme pace in Melbourne.
While incidents prevented Allen’s progress, the #26 Penrite Mustang was arguably the fastest car on the track, alongside Brodie Kostecki’s #17 Shell V-Power Ford. So impressed in the speed of his Ford, that Allen claimed it was the fastest car of his career.
Crucially, after leaving Round 2 buried down in 19th overall, Allen heads to Round 3 this year eighth — a whopping 11 positions better off.
More than anyone, Allen has rookie Supercars engineer Corte to thank.
With technical director McPherson recently stealing the headlines, Corte has quietly emerged as a super find for Penrite Racing.
All told, while disappointed to see Allen miss out on the win in Sydney due to a steering failure, the Italian was proud to make an instant impact and prove the #26 Mustang will be one to watch.
“It was a difficult start with many new challenges,” Corte said in a broadcast interview.
“But it was a very strong progression, it was very good to be fighting for the win in Race 3 on Sunday.
“We faced every challenge we had with a great attitude. Unfortunate with the failure we had at the end, but we brought home no less that we would be fighting at every round.”
Allen will chase his maiden win when the 2026 season resumes in New Zealand from April 10-12.
