Why 2026 is the year for DJR to return to the promised land

The Shell V-Power Racing Team's 2026 season has been officially launched, and while the livery might have stayed largely the same, there's plenty of changes to be excited about if you're a Dick Johnson Racing fan.

The honour of driving the iconic #17 has been bestowed upon Brodie Kostecki after one season with the team, whilst in what has been lauded as a "strategic shift," Rylan Gray becomes the squad's youngest-ever full-time driver.

Whilst some could see the appointment of Triple Eight as Ford's preferred homologation partner as a blow to a team who have stuck loyal to the brand since 1980, DJR themselves have openly admitted it comes as a relief.

It's been a difficult few years for the team, whose efforts into correcting the parity struggles experienced by Ford at the start of Gen3 have unquestionably hurt their own on-track performances.

By the end of last year, DJR had slipped to be the fourth-best Ford team, behind Penrite Racing, Walkinshaw Andretti United, and Tickford Racing in the teams' standings.

Now, DJR can purely focus on being the best race team they can be, and there is some serious firepower both in and out of the car. It's easy to see why they're bullish when you look at the key pieces.

Everyone already knows what Kostecki is capable of. At the age of 28 he has achieved more than many have in their entire careers, with 11 wins, 30 podiums, 17 poles, and statement championship and Bathurst wins across 2023 and 2024.

His arrival at DJR at the beginning of last year was perhaps the biggest sign yet that DJR were going to stop at nothing to get themselves back to the front of the field.

And return to the front of the field they did. Three wins represented the Shell V-Power Racing Team's most successful season since 2022, including a first 500km enduro win since 2001.

Kostecki also became the first driver in the Supercars era to claim three consecutive Bathurst 1000 poles, joining arguably the most illustrious company possible in Peter Brock and Allan Moffat.

But, there were still teething issues, with some weekends being largely anonymous outings, and Tasmania being a low point. It might be expected in year one, but Kostecki's decision to re-sign through to 2030 shows that there is an upwards trajectory.

It's a leaner, meaner Kostecki in 2026, who revealed he lost between seven and eight kilograms whilst over in America during the off-season. He also had a sneak peak at the aerodynamic parity testing at Windshear in North Carolina.

We've seen over his career that Kostecki has been utterly supreme in high-pressure situations. Besting Shane van Gisbergen in a straight title fight in 2023, fending off Broc Feeney in a breathless final Bathurst stint in 2024.

Now, he arguably finds himself with most high-pressure seat that anyone within the Ford camp can find themselves in, the #17 Shell V-Power Mustang. You can't help but feel it's a great match.

His responsibilities won't only increase performance-wise, but also when it comes to bringing the other side of the garage up the grid.

Kostecki has taken a keen interest in developing young talent through his Norwell Motorplex connections, and with 19-year-old Gray taking the reins of the #38, it's a perfect chance for Kostecki to take the Super2 champion under his wing.

However, the team haven't publicly put a number value on the rookie's expectations in 2026, stating that his primary objective is on constant improvement and progression.

Throw in a move to the Gold Coast from his rural hometown of Denman in the NSW Hunter Valley, and it's a lot to take in for any teenager. However, like Kostecki, there is a calmness about him that has served him well in junior categories.

And then there's the make-up of the team off track. There's a new CEO in Megan Foster, and new Team Principal in Mark Fenning, a new Team Manager in Tom Moore.

When the latter two got a headstart on their new roles at the back end of last year, Kostecki delivered a $50,000 payday in Adelaide.

Now is the time to convert into something even bigger.

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