Supercars | Melbourne | Race 5 | Kostecki Goes Back To Back on Friday

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Brodie Kostecki secured a decisive second victory of his season in a dramatic Race 5 of the 2026 Supercars Championship in Melbourne.

Brodie Kostecki goes back-to-back at Albert Park ????

The Shell V-Power Racing Team #17 is your Repco Australia Race 5 winner at the Melbourne SuperSprint! #RepcoSC #Supercars #F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/1EfeVDsZRZ
— Supercars (@supercars) March 6, 2026

Supercars Race 5 preview from Albert Park in Melbourne

Matthew Payne, who started Race 5 on pole, is now the 2026 Supercars Championship leader. While starting next to him, Brodie Kostecki looked to make it back to back victories at Albert Park. Toyota and Walkinshaw secured a second row lock out yesterday, and aimed to secure their first podium in their fifth Supercars outing.

Lights out in Melbourne

Off the line, Payne held his lead, while Feeney had to settle behind the Toyotas. At the back of the field, Macauley Jones and Zach Bates were left facing the wrong way. However, both were able to recover to the back of the field.

After waiting all day to race, the drivers were raring to go as Will Brown pushed Cooper Murray into the gravel after attempting to pass. Murray dropped down to 22nd however Brown was given a 15 second time penalty for the incident. Cam Waters made moves around Kai Allen. James Golding, who secured fourth yesterday but started today in 18th, had recovered to five spots in the opening two laps.

As the laps ticked on, the drama continued further back in the pack, with eight cars not giving anyone room, with Golding sent down to 20th. At the front, Payne managed to maintain his led, however, the Penrite driver was unable to drop Kostecki and Ryan Wood.

While in the chasing pack, Aaron Cameron made up crucial spots to fourth, capitalising on Broc Feeney and Chaz Mostert’s incident. Cameron, who looked to recover from a difficult opening day, was able to escape up the road.

Kostecki never In doubt

While still dealing with a bout of illness, Kostecki continued to fight for this weekends Larry Perkins Trophy. On Lap 4, Kostecki was back in the lead, diving down the inside of Payne. Wood, hovered behind in third.

With the race starting to settle, tyre management was crucial. However it didn’t last long, as on Lap 8, Allen made his move around Jack Le Brocq for sixth. Mostert, who picked up seeing damage during his altercation with Feeney, was relegated to 12th by Lap 10. Elsewhere, Murray picked up a five second time penalty for his incident

Shunts, spins and strategy

O Lap 11 of 19, drama erupted. Feeney attempted to go down the inside of Cameron, shunting Cameron to the grass. An unhappy Cameron return the contact. But when Allen then tried his luck up the inside of the final corner, both him and Cameron were sent spinning into the barriers. Feeney was able to escape up the main straight cleanly in fourth. Allen was dropped to ninth and Cameron was dropped to the back of the field for the second race in a row.

The woes keep coming for the Blanchard Racing Team, with Cameron reporting smoke inside his cockpit. The Blahst Liqui Moly backed driver was forced into the pits with damage to his exhaust, however he was back on track in Race 5 a few laps later.

With the chasing pack in chaos, the leaders were able to escape almost eight seconds up the road. After getting away from his incidents cleanly, Feeney was quickly passed by Le Brocq and Waters, dropping him down to sixth.

Ford dominates Race 5

While Wood was looking to secure Toyota’s first podium, it was another race of Ford dominance. With Kostecki and Payne pulling away from the Walkinshaw driver.

With only a few laps to go, it was the Red Bull Triple Eight cars that started to suffer. As Brown was swallowed up by the field, with smoke appearing from his Mustang. Feeney was yet again passed by a quick recovering Allen. Le Brocq was Allen’s next target, as the 20 year old made his move for fifth. Jones was sent off in Turn 11, after David Reynolds shunt on Jobe Stewart forced his’ Supra wide.

At the front of the field, Payne tried to reel the former Supercars Champion. However as the checkered flag flew, it was Kostecki who crossed the line first. Claiming back to back victories in Melbourne, Kostecki stays fourth in the standings, closing the gap to Waters. Payne holds onto his championship lead, while Wood secures Toyota’s first podium in the Repco Supercars Championship. After a superb recovery drive from Allen, Penrite hold onto their Teams Championship lead, with a second and fifth in Race 5.