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Driver pairs to watch out for at the Bathurst 1000
Joanna Guelas, AAP • October 8th, 2026 5:02 pm
Matt Payne (left) enjoyed a Bathurst win with Garth Tander but will have a new partner 12 months on | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Driver pairings to watch out for at this year's Bathurst 1000 Supercars race:
Chaz Mostert-Fabian Coulthard
Bathurst best: Mostert - 1st (2014; 2021); Coulthard - 2nd (2022)
The idea of defending Supercars champion Mostert driving the Toyota Supra to victory at Mount Panorama would have appeared laughable after just one win across 28 races at the end of the Sprint Cup.
But the fan favourite stunned the field with a wet-weather triumph at last month's The Bend 500 with long-time co-driver Coulthard.
Sporting blue hair this weekend, Mostert knows all about how to use luck to his advantage at Mount Panorama after two unlikely victories.
Matt Payne-Will Davison
Bathurst best: Payne - 1st (2025); Davison - 1st (2009; 2016)
If Mostert's 2014 last-lap win is widely considered the best Bathurst 1000 race, then Payne's 2025 epic is a close second.
Payne and legendary co-driver Garth Tander weathered rivals, torrential rain and numerous safety cars to win one of the most extraordinary races at Mount Panorama.
Tander has since retired, but title contender Payne is in good hands with two-time Bathurst 1000 winner Will Davison.
Payne will still be smarting after missing out on the Sprint Cup title to rival Broc Feeney.
Matt Payne's mindset shift after conquering Bathurst | Sport Nation
Brodie Kostecki-Todd Hazelwood
Bathurst best: Kostecki - 1st (2024); Hazelwood - 1st (2024)
Kostecki and Hazelwood form one of the more formidable partnerships, but the 2024 Bathurst 1000 champions endured a nightmare outing at The Bend 500.
Hazelwood was nowhere near his best and squandered Kostecki's hard-earned pole in South Australia, finishing 17th.
Lead engineer George Commins won't be in the garage this weekend after a mountain biking accident, adding to the pair's challenge.
Kostecki is in the mix for this year's championship race after finishing third in the Sprint Cup.
Brodie Kostecki wins Race 11 at Ruapuna | Supercars on Sport Nation
Broc Feeney-Nick Percat
Bathurst best: Feeney - 2nd (2024); Percat - 1st (2011)
For the first time since his main game debut in 2022, Feeney won't be sharing the car with Jamie Whincup after the seven-time champion hit pause on his search for a fifth Bathurst 1000 title.
Feeney partners with Percat, who famously won the Great Race on his first attempt in 2011.
The pair endured a horror outing at The Bend 1000, finishing 24th out of 26 cars.
Sprint Cup winner Feeney will be hoping luck is on his side at Mount Panorama, having already endured his fair share of heartbreak in Bathurst.
Broc Feeney claimed pole position for the final race of the Perth Super 440 at Wanneroo Raceway | Photo: PR IMAGE
Jayden Ojeda-David Russell
Bathurst best: Ojeda - 8th (2024); Russell - 2nd (2023)
One driver certain to surprise the competition's established stars is Ojeda.
The 27-year-old is the standout rookie of the season after a string of top-10 finishes, complemented well by experienced driver Russell.
Ojeda and Russell were in the frame for a podium finish at The Bend 500, but their hopes were squashed after a late collision with Payne.
Ojeda has yet to claim his maiden Supercars win after finally earning his long-awaited full-time drive.
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