Chaz Mostert and Fabian Coulthard have delivered a standout performance for Toyota, sweeping to a memorable victory in a wild AirTouch 500 at The Bend.
The 500km endurance event tested drivers across changing track conditions. Competitors battled wild and wet weather for the first two-thirds of the race before the circuit somewhat dried out under afternoon sunshine. The majority of the field became victims of the shifting conditions at one point or another in the enduro. Mostert emerged at the head of the field, driving clean through the transition to cruise home with an 18-second margin.
The victory could be mainly attributed to a bold strategy call by the team and a masterclass of safe-hands driving during an eight-lap stint by Fabian Coulthard, handing the Supra back to Mostert for the sprint to the end.
From Grid Struggles to Podium Dominance
The victory represents a remarkable turnaround for the Toyota squad. Just twenty-four hours earlier, none of the five Toyota GR Supras managed to qualify inside the top 10. By the end of the race, Toyota claimed two of the three podium positions.
South Australian drivers Kai Allen and Tim Slade secured second place on home turf for Ford, while Mostert’s teammates Ryan Wood and Jaxon Evans brought their GR Supra home in third to round out a strong team result.
A Career Milestone at The Bend
The win marks Mostert’s 30th career victory in Supercars, tying legend Dick Johnson on the all-time win list. It is Mostert’s second win of 2026 and his first-ever victory in a 500km endurance race.
Also for Fabian Coulthard, his first win in the 500 enduro and he hopes it gives them some momentum heading to the mountain, where the veteran hopes to win his first Barhurst 1000.
With The Bend wrapped up, attention now turns to Mount Panorama for the Repco Bathurst 1000, scheduled for 8 to 11 October 2026.
