Who are the biggest breakout prospects of the 2026 Supercars season?

Make no mistake, 2026 is shaping as a year of opportunity in the Repco Supercars Championship.

It's a vastly different landscape to the one we left in Adelaide last November, with new drivers, new combinations, and new faces in off-track places. It's an off-season that has the potential to shake up the running order, and send new names to the top.

Last year, it was Kiwi young guns Matt Payne and Ryan Wood who emerged as the breakout stars with fantastic campaigns, both displaying qualities that now have them pinned as some of the biggest stars in the category.

Now, the next wave of rookies will be looking to replicate their success, however there are also established names who will feel that they need to take another step.

Not only are there drivers who are firming for breakout campaigns, but there are also teams who will feel they are in a position to make big strides year-on-year.

So, who is shaping up for a breakout campaign in 2026?

Kai Allen

It might seem a little bit of an unusual pick to lead this list with the man who shocked the world on his way to Grand Final berth, but now Kai Allen needs to back it up. Five podiums in his rookie season was nothing short of a phenomenal return, but for someone so accustomed to winning, the 20-year-old was disappointed not to get that first win on the board. He has already shown all the traits of someone who will be a mainstay at the front of the field for years to come, and when that first win does come, it could open the floodgates. Amid all the speculation surrounding teammate Matt Payne's future at Penrite Racing, a multi-win campaign could stamp his authority as a team leader should the Kiwi depart.

Anton De Pasquale

It was a strong start to life at Team 18 for Anton De Pasquale, who recorded the best championship finish any Team 18 driver has ever recorded. He progressed from a regular top 10 contender to a regular top five contender by the end of the season, but now expectations will shift further. Leading the way for what is now the Chevrolet homologation team, wins will be expected of De Pasquale in 2026, something he hasn't achieved since 2023. Wins could also be important for his own career, as he looks to establish himself as the leader of the GM pack. With a public hunt for a superstar driver ongoing, De Pasquale could prove himself as the answer to their question with a big year.

Rylan Gray

Rylan Gray's arrival at Dick Johnson Racing is intended to be one of the final pieces of the puzzle that has been the Brodie Kostecki-led rebuild. Heralded by the team as a 'major strategic shift,' 19-year-old Gray enters as the defending Super2 champion, and will become DJR's youngest full-time driver in their 47th year of operation. The team stated that Gray's focus will be on 'consistent finishes and progressive improvement,' in his rookie season, and he is well placed to build through the season. He has spent a season under the tutelage of Mark Winterbottom in Tickford's Super2 program, and will now have one of the sport's benchmarks in Brodie Kostecki to take him under his wing. There's no question DJR are in a much better place than they were 12 months ago, and it should only help the level-headed Gray in the long run.

Erebus Motorsport

Erebus Motorsport have only gone trophy-less twice in Supercars, their ill-fated 2013 debut with Mercedes, and last year. However, they went oh so close to claiming the Peter Brock Trophy for a third time, with Cooper Murray and Jobe Stewart putting in an incredible performance, having entered the race with just one Bathurst start between them. Now, they're both leading the way for Erebus, with Stewart the latest success story of the Erebus Academy, and one who does his talking on the track, much like Gray at DJR. The last time Erebus fielded a full-time lineup this inexperienced was with Will Brown and Brodie Kostecki in 2021, both of whom were rookies. We've seen it time and again that Erebus shine with their backs against the wall, and this doesn't feel any different.

Blanchard Racing Team

It felt as though the Blanchard family's team came of age in 2025, led by a brilliant maiden podium for the team courtesy of James Courtney in Perth. However, as the season wore on it was Aaron Cameron who started to come into his own, challenging for a Bathurst win before launching a defiant raid on Broc Feeney at Adelaide to lead early in the Saturday race. Now he's reunited with his former Garry Rogers Motorsport stablemate James Golding, who resurrected his Supercars career over the last three years with PremiAir Racing, and very nearly won Bathurst himself. Set to be the only team with Triple Eight technical support, and bolstering their engineering ranks with former Brad Jones Racing engineer Tony Woodward, BRT don't want to be stuck at the back of pit lane.

Honourable mentions

Brad Jones Racing's move to Toyota could be the shot in the arm that Macauley Jones' career has needed, having cut plenty of laps in the Toyota development mule. Thomas Randle is another who is yet to get a major breakthrough in the main game, but Tickford's stability amid an off season of changes could prove an advantage, especially early in the year. Bathurst winner Matt Payne was devastated after his Finals elimination at Sandown, and will be eager to get that one step closer to a championship this year, especially given the rumours about his future. And then there's SCT Motorsport, who have got their hands on arguably the best equipment on the grid in a Triple Eight Ford. PremiAir Racing also enter a new era, with Roland Dane leading an overhauled operation.

The views in this article do not necessarily express the opinions of Supercars, teams or drivers.