Kai Allen has picked up his maiden Supercars victory in Race 10 at the 2026 ITM Christchurch Super 440. In one of the closest finishes of the season, Brodie Kostecki had to settle for second, while Ryan Wood claimed third. With the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy and the Championship Standings closer than ever, Allen was able to shoot up the standings.
Payne on Pole at Home
Matt Payne claimed a historic pole position in Christchurch, edging out a charging Brodie Kostecki. The 2025 Jason Richards Memorial Trophy winner has placed himself in prime position to jump up the standings in Race 10. Behind them, it was Ryan Wood who was qualified on the second row, ahead of Penrite’s Kai Allen.
Rookie Zach Bates had his highest qualifying of the year, placing his Chevrolet into seventh. Further back, Broc Feeney had to settle for ninth while Tickford’s Thomas Randle and Cam Waters had to settle outside the top ten.
Lights out on Race 10
It was lights out for the first time in Christchurch, and Kostecki stormed to the from. Behind, there was carnage, with Cam Hill, David Reynolds and Macauley Jones coming together off the start. With confusion over a Yellow Flag, Wood got the jump over Payne for second.
Chaz Mostert and Cam Waters both got the best off the start, moving multiple positions up the field. However, it was Feeney and Bates who lost out, dropping down to 12th and 13th respectively. By Lap 6, Payne had dropped down to fourth, with his teammate, Kai Allen, charging ahead for third.
With high winds and lots of dirt on the track, the tyres were starting to give way for a few drivers. Nine laps into the race, Aaron Cameron was on the radio with no grip. While, it was Mostert who ran wide over multiple corners across Ruapuna.
Early Pit Stops proved crucial in Christchurch
It was the Blanchard Racing Team who pulled the gun on early pit stops. Both Cameron and James Golding pitted on consecutive laps for fresh tyres. On track, Feeney finally passed Bates for tenth, with Bates running wide on Lap 17. Kai Allen was the first of the leading pack to pit, coming out down in 15th.
Kostecki picked up too much kerb on Lap 19, sending his Mustang wide and into the dirt. While the early pit stop proved crucial for Allan as he continues to climb up the standings. With Payne and Wood both pitting on Lap 20, it was Allen who stormed over five seconds ahead on track. Will Brown was forced into a longer pit stop after sustaining damage to the back of his Red Bull Mustang.
His early pit stop proved crucial as Allen charged to the front of the field. Behind him, Wood and Kostecki came together with both fighting for net second. Golding also benefitted from his early stop, jumping up to fifth on track.
Allen Charges to the Line
Jayden Ojeda was charged through the field, picking up nine position to twelfth. While at the front of the field, Kostecki began to close in on Allen. A five lap deficit left Allen vulnerable to a charging Kostecki. With the clocks ticking down, it was Anton De Pasquale, who pushed past Golding for fifth. As Allen held up Kostecki, Wood was able to join in on the conversation.
With six laps remaining in Race 10, there was less than a second separating the top three. Behind the, Payne was quickly approaching. Today’s pole sitter trying to make it onto the podium. As the laps ticked on, Allen was able to hold off the former champion, managing a half a second gap as his maiden victory looked closer. Wood, who claimed his first victory last weekend, was closing in on Kostecki.
As the checkered flag flew, it was Allen who picked up his first victory in the Supercars Championship. The young Penrite driver held off Kostecki and Wood, who rounded out the podium. In a historic victory for not only himself but in Christchurch, Allen gains valuable points in the Championship. Payne looses out on a home victory, finishing in fourth, while De Pasquale held on for fifth.
Final Supercars Race 10 classification and results from Christchurch
- Allen
- Kostecki
- Wood
- Payne
- De Pasquale
- Golding
- Waters
- Mostert
- Bates
- Feeney
- Randle
- Ojeda
- Heimgartner
- Gray
- Le Borcq
- Stewart
- Brown
- Fraser
- Murray
- Cameron
- Walls
- Jones
- Hill
- Reynolds
With the Championship standings heating up, all eyes will be on the rest of the weekend and the remaining three races. The Supercars Championship returns tomorrow for Race 11 and 12 in Christchurch, followed by race 13 on Sunday.
