just over two weeks to go until endurance racing kicks off at The Bend Motorsport Park for the inaugural AirTouch 500.
In a major shift for the championship, South Australia will host a Supercars endurance race for the first time, with the fast and flowing Tailem Bend circuit setting the stage for the 500-kilometre showdown on Sunday, 14 September. The event also serves as the lead-in to the Repco Bathurst 1000, locking in its importance as a form guide and points battleground.
Among the standout names making a return is five-time Bathurst winner Garth Tander. Teaming up with Grove Racing’s Matt Payne, the veteran is set to play a key role in Payne’s championship campaign. Payne, currently sitting second in the standings with three wins in 2025, brings momentum and youth to the partnership as they target a strong result at both The Bend and Bathurst.
Tander, like other co-driver greats including Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup, and Mark Winterbottom, is preparing for a sharp change in track characteristics. With the Enduro opener moving from its traditional home at Sandown Raceway to The Bend, Tander has highlighted the challenges drivers face in adapting from Sandown’s bumpy straights to The Bend’s “billiard table smooth” layout.
This year’s endurance events come with added weight, as results from the AirTouch 500 and the Bathurst 1000 will decide the winner of the Ryco Enduro Cup. More importantly, the primary driver who takes out the Enduro Cup will earn automatic qualification for the first-ever Supercars Finals, heightening the stakes for both co-drivers and their leading counterparts.
The Ryco Enduro Cup, awarded to the driver pairing with the highest combined points across the two endurance races, promises to be hotly contested. With experience, strategy, and track synergy playing crucial roles, every session at The Bend will count.
The AirTouch 500 runs from 12–14 September and marks the official return of Supercars endurance racing in 2025. Tickets and corporate hospitality for the weekend are available now through supercars.com.
Live coverage of the full weekend, including Sunday’s 500-kilometre race, will be broadcast exclusively on Foxtel and Kayo.
