2026 Ryco Enduro Cup to begin at revamped AirTouch 500 at The Bend
2026 Enduro Cup to begin at revamped AirTouch 500 at The Bend
The Bend enduro to open 2026 Enduro Cup on rarely-used West Circuit
2026 AirTouch 500 at The Bend scheduled for September 11-13
There will be a big change coming to this year's AirTouch 500 at The Bend, which will be held on a different configuration of The Bend Motorsport Park.
Confirmed in the release of the 2026 Supercars Operations Manual, the opener of the Ryco Enduro Cup is set to be held on the shorter West Circuit, which features a prime overtaking opportunity.
Whilst Supercars have become accustomed to running on the 4.95km International Circuit, this year's running of the event is set to be held on the West Circuit, used once by Supercars six years ago.
Measuring just 3.41km, the shorter layout goes straight on at what would be the Turn 6 hairpin on the International Circuit, before a tight right hander leads into a more open right hander that rejoins the International layout prior to what would be Turn 14.
The 12-turn layout has been used once before by Supercars, hosting the second leg of a doubleheader in the COVID-impacted 2020 season, with three races held. Scott McLaughlin won the first two, and Cam Waters the third.
The change was agreed on following an analysis of the 2020 sprints and the 2025 enduro.
“We analysed last year's race, then we looked back to the second Bend round in 2020, which was on the West Circuit,” Supercars’ Chief Motorsport Officer Tim Edwards told Supercars.com.
“After watching the 2020 races, we felt there was a lot more overtaking using the West Circuit. The tight right-hander, Turn 6, actually provides a great overtaking opportunity.
“It also produces an additional 45 laps to the race. That means, 45 more times cars are going past the pit lane. So, fans see more action and it opens up race strategies more.
“Most of the viewing public are actually on the west side, so it means that if you are sitting in the grandstand, in your car or on pit roof, you get to see the cars go past 45 more times.
“We believe a combination of potentially more overtaking, shorter lap times and strategy offers jeopardy for the teams as well. Now, they need to think about going down a lap when they’re considering their strategy.
“It's going to add to the spectacle."
