Rookie Review Round 5 - Tasmania

Tasmania Super440 delivered three very different races and another valuable pressure test for the 2026 rookie class. Across the Symmons Plains sprint format, Zach Bates, Rylan Gray, Jobe Stewart, and Jackson Walls each faced the trademark intensity of the tight Launceston layout short laps, heavy braking zones, and no margin for hesitation. With wins shared by Chaz Mostert, Andre Heimgartner, and Broc Feeney, the rookies were forced to navigate a fast moving weekend while finding their own rhythm in the pack.

On this episode of Inside Supercars, Tony Whitlock sits down with all four to unpack how they handled the bumps, battles, and learning moments of the Tasmanian round. From Bates' continued qualifying promise, to Gray's race-craft gains, to Stewart and Walls banking more hard earned laps, the rookies offer honest reflections on a weekend that demanded composure and growth at every turn.

From the race track to your device with Tony Whitlock on Inside Supercars

Supported by:

Bruce Stewart Walkinshaw TWG Toyota First Win

Walkinshaw TWG's switch to Toyota was always going to be one of the defining storylines of the 2026 Supercars season, but Taupo delivered the moment that will sit in the team’s history books. Ryan Wood's pole position and breakthrough win, backed by Chaz Mostert's podium, marked Toyota's first ever Supercars victory and launched the squad from midfield contenders to genuine championship threats. It was a weekend built on execution, teamwork, and a car that finally showed its full potential.

On Inside Supercars, Tony Whitlock speaks with Walkinshaw TWG CEO Bruce Stewart about the scale of the achievement, the emotion inside the garage, and what this milestone means for the Toyota program moving forward. Stewart offers a candid look at a landmark weekend that has reset expectations for the season ahead.

From the race track to your device with Tony Whitlock on Inside Supercars

Supported by:

Rookies Review at Ruapuna Pt 2

The Supercars rookie class continues to gather valuable experience, and Ruapuna delivered another demanding test for two of its youngest competitors. After a weekend that mixed raw pace with the realities of racing at the top level, Jackson Walls and Jobe Stewart each walked away with fresh lessons and a clearer sense of where their programs are heading in 2026.

On this week's Inside Supercars, Tony Whitlock sits down with both drivers to unpack their Ruapuna campaigns the highs, the frustrations, and the moments that showed genuine growth. From race-craft under pressure to adapting to a constantly evolving circuit, Walls and Stewart offer honest reflections on what it takes to build momentum in the Main Game.

From the race track to your device with Tony Whitlock on Inside Supercars

Supported by:

New Zealand Wrap

Inside Supercars wraps up the New Zealand swing with Tony Whitlock and James McCabe unpacking two weekends that delivered both spectacle and substance across Taupo and Christchurch. The headline out of Ruapuna was Broc Feeney’s glowing assessment of the old school circuit, praising the revamped layout, tighter margins, and the return of real consequences when drivers pushed beyond the limit. With Supercars committing to Christchurch for at least three years, the pair explore how the Canterbury Car Club’s planned upgrades from permanent garages to expanded safety infrastructure signal a long term future for the event. They also reflect on how the Kiwi fans once again elevated the atmosphere, turning Ruapuna into a genuine Supercars cauldron.

Across the Tasman double, Tony and James break down the competitive picture as the championship tightens. Feeney leaves New Zealand with momentum and the points lead, while Brodie Kostecki, Matt Payne, and Cam Waters each showed flashes that hint at a wide open title fight. Passing was at a premium at Ruapuna, tyre life became a strategic weapon, and pit lane execution proved decisive all themes the team dives into as they assess who maximised the trip and who will be searching for answers before the series returns to Australia. It’s a full, insightful wrap of a New Zealand campaign that reshaped the early season narrative and reminded everyone why 2026 is already one of the most compelling Supercars seasons in years.

From the race track to your device with Tony Whitlock on Inside Supercars

Supported by:

Rookies Review at Ruapuna

Tony Whitlock looks at how Zac Bates and Rylan Gray found Ruapuna as these members of the 2026 rookie class handled the challenges of the South Island.

From the race track to your device with Tony Whitlock on Inside Supercars

Supported by:

The latest episode of Inside Motor Sport dives into a wild weekend at Ruapuna, where record crowds packed the Christchurch Super440 and the Jason Richards Trophy was decided in dramatic fashion. Matt Payne delivered a commanding win in Race 13, Penrite Racing scored a historic 1-2, and Broc Feeney claimed the JR Trophy after a late twist that saw Ryan Wood’s hopes vanish and Brodie Kostecki’s challenge unravel in the final laps. We break down the chaos, the contenders, and the championship shake-up as Feeney regains the series lead heading into Tasmania.

Ryan Wood delivered Toyota its first Supercars win at Taupo after a fiery mid-race radio outburst and a smart assist from teammate Chaz Mostert. Sunday's running was cancelled as Cyclone Vaianu approached, ending the weekend early. Brodie Kostecki leads the championship from Broc Feeney, with Wood jumping into the top five

Rookies Review at Taupo

Tony Whitlock looks at how the 2026 rookie class handled the challenges of Taupo. Jobe Stewart fought back after early trouble, Zac Bates delivered another clean and composed pair of races, Jackson Walls showed growing confidence in the midfield, and Rylan Gray continued to impress with his calm execution. Four rookies, four different stories, all gaining momentum as the season builds.

From the race track to your device with Tony Whitlock on Inside Supercars

Supported by:

Rookies Review at AGP

Tony Whitlock speaks to the five Supercars rookies for a special post AGP edition of Inside Supercars, capturing the energy and pressure of their first appearance on the Albert Park stage. Fresh from the Melbourne SuperSprint, the group reflects on the intensity of racing in front of the Formula 1 crowd, the challenge of adapting to the fast and flowing layout, and the lessons learned across the four sprint races. Each rookie shares how the weekend tested their race craft, their confidence, and their ability to reset after every session.

From the race track to your device with Tony Whitlock on Inside Supercars

Supported by:

George Commins Winning the AGP

Tony Whitlock sits down with George Commins, race engineer for Brodie Kostecki, to unpack a dominant weekend for the DJR squad at the AGP Supercars support races. George explains how the team found speed early, how they managed the changing track conditions across the four sprint races, and why Brodies confidence grew with every lap at Albert Park.

Tony and George dive into the strategy calls that shaped the weekend, the calm approach inside the garage, and the satisfaction of converting raw pace into consistent results. George also reflects on the engineering teamwork behind the scenes and what this performance means as the championship picture begins to form. A detailed and insightful look at a winning weekend from one of the paddocks sharpest minds.

From the race track to your device with Tony Whitlock on Inside Supercars

Supported by: