Track limits, traffic impact first Bend Supercars practice
Track limits loop installed at the exit of Turn 6 right-hander
76 track limits strikes recorded across 26-car field
Supercars drivers are grappling with The Bend’s West Circuit, with a spate of track limits strikes and traffic encounters punctuating opening practice.
The 2026 AirTouch 500 at The Bend is being held on the short layout at The Bend Motorsport Park, which features a new track limits loop at Turn 6.
Track limits will be enforced at the corner exit of Turn 6, a slow right hander that is expected to be a hot spot for action this weekend.
During a Practice, Qualifying or Top Ten Shootout session any driver triggering a track limit loop — whereby all four wheels cross the line — will have that lap time deleted.
Track limits weren’t enforced at the corner when the West Circuit was last used in Supercars back in 2020.
After a brief brake bedding session on Friday morning, drivers returned for Practice 1. A whopping 35 limits strikes were incurred through the opening 10 minutes. Through 30 minutes, with Jayden Ojeda fastest, the field totalled 76 strikes.
The Cooper Murray/Lochie Dalton Erebus Camaro was the only car that didn’t record a strike. Conversely, the sister car of Jobe Stewart/Jarrod Hughes recorded the most with six.
The shorter layout also provided an early look at how traffic could impact Boost Mobile Qualifying.
Notably, Ryan Wood radioed to his team: “To get clear laps is pretty hard… people on out-laps aren’t getting out of the way.”
Bizarrely, Wood made front-to-rear contact with Walkinshaw TWG Racing teammate Chaz Mostert in the opening minutes. The Wood and Mostert Toyotas were 10th and 21st respectively.
On the short layout itself, Ojeda said: "It's busy. It's definitely bumpy going the other way into Turn 6 there. It's rough on the gearbox, it'll make for some good racing.
"Trying to get the car set-up around here, completely changes the nature of the circuit, losing the extra part on the International [Circuit], it's a good challenge."
Supercars co-drivers will hit the track for a dedicated session at 1:45pm local time/2:15pm AEST.
