Blanchard Racing Team has shocked the Supercars world in the first qualifying of 2026, sweeping the front row for tonight’s race at the DUNLOP Sydney 500.
The team that finished last in the teams’ championship in 2025 will start first and second for the opening race of 2026, with team newcomer James Golding (No. 7 CoolDrive Ford Mustang) taking Boost Mobile Pole, with teammate Aaron Cameron (No. 3 Liqui-Moly BLAHST Ford Mustang) starting alongside him in second.
The duo beat out reigning Bathurst 1000 winner Matt Payne (No. 19 Penrite Ford Mustang) and 2025 Boost Mobile Pole Award winner Broc Feeney (No. 88 Red Bull Ampol Ford Mustang) in the tightly contested session.
Payne and Feeney will start third and fourth for tonight’s 26-lap opener, with Team 18’s Anton De Pasquale (No. 18 DeWalt Chevrolet Camaro) fifth and rookie Zach Bates (No. 10 Bendix Chevrolet Camaro) an impressive sixth on debut.
It was a disappointing start to life as defending Supercars champion for Chaz Mostert (No. 1 Mobil 1 Optus Toyota Supra), who qualified just 20th in his debut in the new Toyota GR Supra.
Aucklander Andre Heimgartner (No. 8 R&J Batteries Toyota Supra) will be the top starting Toyota in 10th, with Mostert’s teammate Ryan Wood (No. 2 Mobil 1 Truck Assist Toyota Supra) the next best Supra in 15th.
The 2026 season will then officially kick off tonight with a 26-lap, 100-kilometre race at 7:50 p.m.
Live coverage of the DUNLOP Sydney 500 can be found on Foxtel and the Seven Network, with live streaming on Kayo and 7plus.
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