Supercars - The Bend 500

The AirTouch 500 at The Bend represents a major milestone for v8supercars racing in Australia. This endurance event at The Bend Motorsport Park opens the Enduro Cup and marks the debut of Toyota as the third manufacturer in the Repco Supercars Championship. Located at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park in Tailem Bend, South Australia, this race will be the second running of The Bend 500 in its endurance format.

Race Format and Circuit Configuration

The Bend 500 utilizes the West Circuit configuration at The Bend Motorsport Park. This 3.41 km layout features 12 turns and will host 147 laps of racing. The West Circuit differs from the longer International Circuit that v8supercars typically use at this venue. The change in circuit configuration creates new overtaking opportunities and challenges for drivers and teams.

The Bend Motorsport Park sits approximately 100 km south-east of Adelaide. The facility meets FIA Grade 2 and FIM Category A standards, making it Australia's only circuit with both certifications. The venue offers eight different circuit configurations within its complex, along with a drag strip, karting facilities, rallycross tracks, and off-road courses. The facility features an aggregate rise and fall of 85 metres across its maximum configuration.

Three Manufacturers Battle for Victory

The 2026 season introduces Toyota to v8supercars competition alongside Ford and Chevrolet. This three-manufacturer era brings 24 cars to the grid at The Bend 500.

Ford Mustang GT Teams

Ford fields 11 S650 Mustang GTs at The Bend Motorsport Park. 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. SCT Motorsport operates as a single-car team with support from Triple Eight Race Engineering.

Chevrolet Camaro Teams

Chevrolet enters 8 Camaro ZL1-1LE entries. Team 18 leads as the homologation squad. Erebus Motorsport, Matt Stone Racing, and Nulon Racing complete the Chevrolet contingent at this v8supercars event.

Toyota GR Supra Makes Its Debut

Toyota brings 5 GR Supra Supercars to The Bend 500. Walkinshaw Andretti United serves as the homologation team and fields reigning champion Chaz Mostert. Brad Jones Racing, based in Albury, completes the Toyota lineup. Brad Jones Racing has downsized to three cars for this season.

Gen3 Technical Specifications

The 2026 season continues under Gen3 regulations, now in their fourth year. These rules promote closer racing, reduce costs, and increase road relevance for v8supercars.

Car Design and Construction

Gen3 cars maintain the traditional V8 engine, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. The regulations require key body components like doors, roofs, windows, and bonnets to match production car parts. This creates stronger visual links between race cars and road cars. The rules target a more than 50% reduction in aerodynamic downforce compared to previous generations. Driver skill takes priority over engineering complexity and data analysis.

The cars include hybrid-ready architecture for future development. Weight drops by 100 kg compared to previous specifications, while a small power reduction maintains a similar power-to-weight ratio.

Engine Specifications

Each manufacturer runs a distinct V8 engine configuration at The Bend Motorsport Park:

The Ford Mustang uses a 5.4L V8 Coyote engine. Herrod Performance Engines builds these quad camshaft units with four valves per cylinder.

The Chevrolet Camaro employs a GM 5.7L V8 LTR pushrod engine. KRE Race Engines assembles these single camshaft motors with two valves per cylinder.

The Toyota GR Supra runs a 5.2L V8 2UR-GSE engine. This DOHC design features four valves per cylinder.

Enduro Cup Regulations

The Bend 500 follows specific Enduro Cup rules. Fuel capacity drops to 121 litres for this event. Teams use fuel towers for refueling during pit stops. All competitors run on a new Dunlop control tyre specification.

Venue History and Development

The Bend Motorsport Park opened in January 2018. The facility hosted its first v8supercars event, The Bend SuperSprint, in August 2018. The original plan included a 500-kilometre endurance race in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused postponement. The SuperSprint format continued through 2023. No v8supercars event took place at the venue in 2024. The endurance format launched in 2025, making this the second running of The Bend 500.

The Peregrine Corporation, owned by the South Australian Shahin family, developed the entire motorsport complex. The facility stands on the former site of a Mitsubishi Motors test track. The Rydges Pit Lane Hotel provides 100 rooms with track-view accommodations for visitors.

Circuit Records and Distinctions

The Bend Motorsport Park includes the 7.77 km GT Circuit, the second-longest permanent race track globally. Only the Nürburgring Nordschleife exceeds its length. The GT Circuit holds the title of Australia's longest permanent circuit since 1968. When v8supercars first raced at The Bend in 2018, South Australia hosted two different championship rounds in a single season for the first time since 1977.

The 2026 AirTouch 500 at The Bend Motorsport Park offers v8supercars fans a unique endurance race on the West Circuit. The combination of three manufacturers, Gen3 regulations, and the challenging South Australian venue creates compelling competition for teams and drivers.