Feeney Dominates Sydney 500 as Supercars Season Roars to Life

If the Dunlop Sydney 500 was supposed to ease us into the 2026 Supercars season gently, nobody told Broc Feeney. The Triple Eight ace took two wins from three races across the February 17-21 weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park, announcing himself as the man to beat this year in the most emphatic way possible. And he did it in Ford colours — the first time Triple Eight has won a race under the blue oval since 2009.

Race 1: History in Ford Blue

The significance of Race 1 went beyond just another tick in the win column. Triple Eight Race Engineering, the powerhouse outfit that spent over a decade winning titles with Holden and then Chevrolet, made their competitive return to Ford and won first time out. That doesn’t happen by accident. Months of preparation, testing and development went into this moment and Feeney delivered it with a composed, front-running performance that gave the rest of the field very little to work with.

For the older fans in the grandstands, seeing Triple Eight in Ford livery felt like a throwback to a different era. For the younger ones, it was simply a dominant drive from the sport’s rising star.

Race 2: De Pasquale Strikes

Race 2 belonged to someone else. Anton De Pasquale, driving for Team 18, threaded the needle through a tight field to win by just 0.3627 seconds over Brodie Kostecki. It was a reminder that while Feeney may have grabbed the headlines, the 2026 grid is stacked with talent and the margins are razor thin. De Pasquale’s late-race composure under pressure from Kostecki was masterful — the kind of finish that gets your heart rate up whether you’re in the grandstand or watching from the couch.

Race 3: Heartbreak and Heroics

Race 3 was the one that’ll stick in people’s minds longest. Young gun Kai Allen was having the drive of his life, battling Feeney for the lead in a performance that had the crowd on its feet. Then his suspension broke. Just like that — gone. The cruelty of motorsport laid bare in a single moment. Allen climbed from the car knowing he’d had the pace to win, and that’s almost worse than never being in contention at all.

Feeney, meanwhile, had his own problems. His coolsuit failed during the race, meaning he drove the final stint in punishing cockpit temperatures with no relief. He won anyway. That’s the kind of toughness that separates good drivers from great ones, and at this early stage of the season Feeney looks every bit a championship contender.

The Season Ahead

Three races in, the picture is already forming. Feeney and Triple Eight’s Ford operation look formidable. De Pasquale has proven Team 18 won’t be making up the numbers. And Kai Allen — remember that name. His time is coming. The 2026 Supercars season is going to be a cracker — about as thrilling as discovering your favourite online pokies in Australia just hit a bonus round.

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NC — Staff sports writer, australiafootball.com