Adelaide Grand Final

The bp Adelaide Grand Final represents the concluding round of the Repco Supercars Championship for 2026. This event takes place at the Adelaide Street Circuit in South Australia and serves as the Grand Finale of the season, which features 14 rounds and 37 races across the calendar year. The Adelaide Grand Final brings together the top drivers in v8supercars competition to determine the champion through a Finals Series format.

Adelaide Street Circuit Layout and Features

The Adelaide Street Circuit is a temporary street track located in the East Parklands, adjacent to Adelaide's central business district. The circuit measures 3.219 km (2.000 mi) in length and contains 14 turns. The layout incorporates both city streets and parkland areas, creating a unique racing environment for v8supercars competition.

The track begins with the Senna Chicane, followed by the long Brock Straight (formerly Bartels Road). Other significant sections include the Dequetteville Hairpin, the Victoria Park section, and the Mistral Hairpin that leads back to the pit straight. The circuit is largely flat, with minor inclines on Brock Straight and Wakefield Road. Turn 8 stands out as a particularly challenging section, known among drivers for its high-speed and demanding nature.

All grandstands and facilities at the Adelaide Street Circuit are temporary structures. These are erected specifically for the event and removed afterward.

2026 Race Format and Points System

The 2026 bp Adelaide Grand Final operates as part of the Finals Series format. The top four drivers compete across three races to determine the champion. The bonus points allocation for the Grand Final has been adjusted to match those of the Elimination and Semi-Finals. Drivers receive 150, 120, 96, and 78 points based on their ranking position.

Manufacturers and Teams

The 2026 Repco Supercars Championship features three manufacturers competing at the Adelaide Grand Final. This marks a significant expansion with Toyota's entry into the series.

Ford Mustang GT

Ford will field 11 cars at the Adelaide Grand Final. Red Bull Ampol Racing serves as the homologation team. Other Ford teams include Shell V-Power Racing Team, Tickford Racing, Penrite Racing, Blanchard Racing Team, and SCT Motorsport. All Ford entries use the Mustang GT model.

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Chevrolet will compete with 8 cars running the Camaro ZL1. Team 18 holds homologation responsibilities. Additional Chevrolet teams include Erebus Motorsport, Matt Stone Racing, and Nulon Racing.

Toyota GR Supra

Toyota GAZOO Racing makes its debut in the Supercars Championship for 2026. Walkinshaw Andretti United serves as the homologation team, while Brad Jones Racing also fields Toyota entries. Together, these teams will run 5 GR Supras at the Adelaide Grand Final.

Changes to the pit lane order have been confirmed for 2026. Brad Jones Racing will reduce its entry to three cars, and SCT Motorsport will operate as a single-car team, integrated with BJR in the pit lane.

Gen3 Technical Specifications

The 2026 season continues under the Gen3 ruleset, now in its fourth year. These regulations focus on road relevance, improved racing, and reduced operational costs for v8supercars competition.

Chassis and Engine

All cars use a control chassis that is smaller than the previous Gen2 specification. This allows for a broader range of vehicle models to compete. All entries are V8-powered, front-engined, and rear-wheel drive vehicles.

Ford Mustangs use a 5.4L V8 engine. Chevrolet Camaros are powered by a 5.7L V8. Toyota GR Supras use a 5.2L V8. These engines deliver increased longevity and reduced fuel consumption while maintaining competitive parity. The power-to-weight ratio remains consistent through a slight reduction in power compensated by a 100kg weight saving.

Aerodynamics and Components

Gen3 regulations target a reduction in aerodynamic downforce by over 50%. This change lessens "dirty air" effects, promoting closer racing and making the cars more challenging for drivers. Key body components like doors, roofs, windows, and bonnets must match the dimensions of their road-car counterparts and be interchangeable between road and race versions.

Tires and Fuel

A Dunlop control tire has been developed specifically to complement the reduced downforce of the Gen3 cars. Fuel capacity for Finals rounds is set at 121 liters, utilizing fuel towers during pit stops.

Adelaide Street Circuit History

The Adelaide Street Circuit hosted the Formula One Australian Grand Prix from 1985 to 1995. After Formula One relocated, the circuit was reinvented for v8supercars competition in 1999 as the Adelaide 500. The track was shortened to its current 3.219 km layout for Supercars events.

The event quickly grew in popularity and has frequently served in different calendar positions throughout its history. In 2005, the event was inducted into the V8 Supercars Australia Hall of Fame, a unique honor for an individual race. The Adelaide 500 has historically been the most attended Supercars race, drawing crowds of around 250,000, with a peak of 291,400 in 2008.

Event Characteristics

The bp Adelaide Grand Final combines on-track racing with off-track entertainment, including concerts and exotic vehicle displays. The festival atmosphere adds to the overall experience for fans attending the Adelaide Street Circuit.

The demanding nature of the street circuit creates unique challenges for v8supercars drivers. Very few races at Adelaide have concluded without the intervention of a Safety Car, reflecting the technical difficulty of the track layout.

Looking beyond 2026, the Adelaide Street Circuit is scheduled to host the Australian round of the MotoGP World Championship starting in 2027, marking a new chapter for the venue.