AirTouch 500 at The Bend track schedule revealed
2026 event to be held on West Circuit, lap count increases by 45 laps
Race begins at 1:45pm ACST on Sunday September 13
The track schedule for the 2026 AirTouch 500 at The Bend has been unveiled ahead of a crucial enduro season.
2026 marks the second time that the pre-Bathurst 500km enduro will be held at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.
The Bend makes up the first of two races for the Ryco Enduro Cup, which concludes at the Repco Bathurst 1000 in October. The winner of the Enduro Cup gains automatic entry into the Finals, plus 25 bonus points for the Gold Coast.
The AirTouch 500 will take on a vastly different complexion this season, with the event shifting away from the 4.95km International Circuit to the 3.41km West Circuit, last used by Supercars in 2020.
That sees the lap count increase substantially from 102 laps in 2025 to 147 laps this year.
Supercars will be on track for five practice sessions across Friday and Saturday, two of which are for additional drivers only, with Boost Mobile Qualifying and a Top Ten Shootout to decide pole on Saturday afternoon.
A 20-minute Warm-Up session on Sunday morning precedes the 500km enduro, which will begin at 1:45pm ACST.
26 cars will contest the AirTouch 500 at The Bend, with Team 18 (Craig Lowndes/Bayley Hall) and Tickford (Ben Gomersall/Campbell Logan) entering wildcards.
Support categories include Porsche Equity-One Carrera Cup Australia, Trans Am Cup Series, Battery World Aussie Racings Cars, Touring Car Masters, and the Australian Prototype Series.
The AirTouch 500 at The Bend will be held from September 11-13.
2026 AirTouch 500 at The Bend track schedule
All times ACST
Friday September 11
Start | Finish | Category | Duration | Session |
|---|---|---|---|---|
8:45 | 9:05 | Australian Prototype Series | 0:20 | Practice 1 |
9:15 | 9:35 | Aussie Racing Cars | 0:20 | Practice |
9:45 | 10:05 | Trans Am | 0:20 | Practice |
10:15 | 10:35 | Touring Car Masters | 0:20 | Practice |
10:45 | 11:10 | Carrera Cup | 0:25 | Practice 1 |
11:25 | 11:55 | Supercars | 0:30 | Practice 1 (All Drivers) |
12:10 | 12:30 | Aussie Racing Cars | 0:20 | Qualifying |
12:40 | 13:00 | Trans Am | 0:20 | Qualifying |
13:10 | 13:30 | Australian Prototype Series | 0:20 | Practice 2 |
13:45 | 14:15 | Supercars | 0:30 | Practice 2 (Additional Drivers) |
14:30 | 14:50 | Touring Car Masters | 0:20 | Qualifying |
15:00 | 15:25 | Carrera Cup | 0:25 | Practice 2 |
15:40 | 16:10 | Supercars | 0:30 | Practice 3 (All Drivers) |
16:25 | 1 lap after 16:53 | Trans Am | 0:30 | Race 1 |
17:05 | 17:15 | Supercars | 0:10 | TV Track Time |
17:20 | 17:50 | Supercars | 0:30 | Event Rides |
Saturday September 12
Start | Finish | Category | Duration | Session |
|---|---|---|---|---|
8:05 | 8:35 | Events/Promoter | 0:30 | Safety & Course Car Tours and Pit Lane Walk |
8:45 | 9:05 | Australian Prototype Series | 0:20 | Qualifying |
9:15 | 1 lap after 9:33 | Aussie Racing Cars | 0:20 | Race 1 |
9:50 | 10:30 | Supercars | 0:40 | Practice 4 (Additional Drivers) |
10:45 | 1 lap after 11:03 | Touring Car Masters | 0:20 | Trophy Race |
11:15 | 11:45 | Carrera Cup | 0:30 | Qualifying |
12:00 | 12:40 | Supercars | 0:40 | Practice 5 (All Drivers) |
12:55 | 1 lap after 13:13 | Australian Prototype Series | 0:20 | Race 1 |
13:25 | 1 lap after 13:53 | Trans Am | 0:30 | Race 2 |
14:05 | 1 lap after 14:23 | Aussie Racing Cars | 0:20 | Race 2 |
14:45 | 15:15 | Supercars | 0:30 | Qualifying |
15:30 | 1 lap after 16:13 | Carrera Cup | 0:45 | Race 1 |
16:25 | 1 lap after 16:43 | Touring Car Masters | 0:20 | Race 1 |
17:00 | 17:30 | Supercars | 0:30 | Top Ten Shootout |
Sunday September 13
Start | Finish | Category | Duration | Session |
|---|---|---|---|---|
8:00 | 1 lap after 8:18 | Touring Car Masters | 0:20 | Race 2 |
8:30 | 1 lap after 8:48 | Australian Prototype Series | 0:20 | Race 2 |
9:00 | 1 lap after 9:18 | Aussie Racing Cars | 0:20 | Race 3 |
9:30 | 1 lap after 9:58 | Trans Am | 0:30 | Race 3 |
10:15 | 10:35 | Supercars | 0:20 | Warm-Up |
10:45 | 1 lap after 11:03 | Touring Car Masters | 0:20 | Race 3 |
11:15 | 1 lap after 11:33 | Australian Prototype Series | 0:20 | Race 3 |
11:45 | 1 lap after 12:03 | Aussie Racing Cars | 0:20 | Race 4 |
12:15 | 1 lap after 12:58 | Carrera Cup | 0:45 | Race 2 |
13:45 | 1 lap after 17:23 | Supercars | 147 laps | Race 29 |
