news-engine

More than half of the 10 berths available in the 2026 Repco Supercars Finals Series could be secured at the first time of asking at this weekend's Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440. Although only one driver can walk away with the Repco Sprint Cup, an automatic Finals entry, and 25 bonus points for the first of the Elimination Finals on the Gold Coast, drivers at the top of the table can also mathematically secure their positions in the post season. While Matt Payne, Broc Feeney, and Cam Waters all enter the weekend as the Sprint Cup contenders, as many as six drivers can secure their place in Finals with strong weekends. Supercars.com unpacks how the top six drivers in points can secure their places in the Finals at Ipswich. Who can win the 2026 Repco Sprint Cup? Three drivers enter the weekend with a chance at claiming the Repco Sprint Cup. Matt Payne is the most likely, with a 118-point buffer over Broc Feeney, while Cam Waters is an extreme outsider with a 277-point deficit. The Sprint Cup win is significant for the course of the remainder of the season, with the winning driver locking away their Finals berth, and securing a 25-point boost to their points haul at the first Elimination Final on the Gold Coast. Though Payne is well in control, Feeney won two of the three races last year, while Waters capitalised on a Safety Car to finish second in the big points Sunday race. Payne could only manage a best of fourth. What happens to those who don't win the Sprint Cup? Barring any major disasters, Payne and Feeney will lock up their Finals berths on points regardless of whether they walk away with the weekend's biggest piece of silverware or not. With 315 points available, Payne can lose up to 274 points to 11th by the end of the weekend, while Feeney can lose up to 156 points. Waters, meanwhile, only needs a tiny gain to mathematically clinch his berth, only needing to gain three points to put it beyond doubt. Should they do that, it would be impossible for them to drop out of the top 10 in points through the Ryco Enduro Cup, even if they were to have two DNFs. Can anyone outside the top three clinch a Finals berth? Though they can't win the Repco Sprint Cup in Ipswich, the next three drivers in the points standings are all separated by just 55 points. Any one of Brodie Kostecki, Kai Allen, or Anton De Pasquale could feasibly find themselves as the best of the rest by the end of Ipswich. However, they could also free themselves up for a big swing at the Ryco Enduro Cup by clinching their Finals berths. Brodie Kostecki Out of those outside Sprint Cup contention, Brodie Kostecki is the most likely to clinch his Finals berth in Ipswich on points. Currently sitting 515 points ahead of 11th, the 2023 champion is all but assured to be fighting for his second championship at the back end of the season. Should he leave Ipswich 601 points clear of 11th, it puts his place beyond doubt, given there's 600 points on offer across the enduros. To clinch at Ipswich, he must gain at least 86 points on the bubble, with his six wins for the season also coming in handy in the highly unlikely event of a tie-breaker. Kai Allen Having seen Supercars' appeal against his fifth place finish in the final Perth race dismissed, Kai Allen maintains fifth in the standings, as well as his strong haul of 105 points from the Sunday, which included a fastest lap bonus. That has placed the rising star in a strong position to secure his Finals berth, however he will need a strong weekend to do it. If Allen gains 111 points on the bubble in Ipswich, he will lock up his place in the Finals. In his first visit to Queensland Raceway last year, Allen starred to claim two podiums in three starts. Anton De Pasquale The leading light for Chevrolet this year, Anton De Pasquale enters the weekend 460 points clear of the Finals bubble, as he and Team 18 continue to grow into their newfound role as Chevrolet's homologation team. Ipswich was one of the team's more consistent rounds last year as they got stronger into the back end of the season, however the required 141 points to gain on the bubble this weekend will be a tall order. Both Allen and De Pasquale are much more likely to secure their Finals berths at the AirTouch 500 at The Bend. On track action in Ipswich begins on Friday. Tickets are on sale now. 2026 Repco Supercars Finals standings After Round 8, Bosch Power Tools Perth Super 440 Position | Driver | Gap to Safety | Gain/Loss | |---|---|---|---| 1st | Payne | +875 | 0 | 2nd | Feeney | +757 | 0 | 3rd | Waters | +598 | +1 | 4th | Kostecki | +515 | -1 | 5th | Allen | +490 | 0 | 6th | De Pasquale | +460 | 0 | 7th | Brown | +290 | 0 | 8th | Mostert | +228 | +1 | 9th | Wood | +160 | -1 | 10th | Le Brocq | +20 | 0 | 11th | Golding | -20 | 0 | 12th | Randle | -119 | +1 | 13th | Heimgartner | -128 | +1 | 14th | Ojeda | -132 | -2 | 15th | Reynolds | -223 | 0 | 16th | Hill | -324 | 0 | 17th | Bates | -438 | 0 | 18th | Fraser | -451 | 0 | 19th | Cameron | -456 | +2 | 20th | Gray | -471 | 0 | 21st | Murray | -487 | +1 | 22nd | Jones | -501 | -4 | 23rd | Walls | -586 | 0 | 24th | Stewart | -597 | 0 |