Supercars Officials Launch Investigation Amid Ford’s Dominance
Supercars officials have reportedly initiated an investigation following the activation of a ‘parity’ trigger during the recent event in Taupo. The incident occurred after Brodie Kostecki secured victory in the first race held in New Zealand, extending his lead in the championship. This win was followed by Ryan Wood’s historic triumph for Toyota, marking the brand’s first-ever race victory in this format.
Despite the significance of Toyota’s achievement, it was Kostecki’s win on Saturday for Ford that triggered the new parity system within Supercars. Ford has been exceptionally dominant this season, securing seven out of the first nine races. These victories include four by Kostecki and Dick Johnson Racing, three by Broc Feeney and Triple Eight, and one by Anton De Pasquale for Chevrolet and Dewalt Racing.
The dominance of Ford has led to an investigation into whether all teams are competing on a level playing field. According to reports from V8 Sleuth and Speedcafe, the investigation is now underway.
Ford has also claimed 22 podium finishes compared to just four for Toyota and one for Chevrolet. Under the new parity system introduced in 2026, officials are required to investigate if any team becomes overly dominant. The system uses a rolling six-race calculation based on in-race lap time data.
The trigger system only mandates an investigation, meaning changes may not necessarily be implemented. However, according to the rules, chief motorsport officer Tim Edwards has several options at his disposal:
- Consult with category technical director Perry Kapper
- Arrange test days to evaluate any proposed changes
- Conduct further validation/correlation work away from the track
- Recommend either a parity adjustment be made or not be made
This development comes just four months after Supercars conducted aero testing at the Windshear wind tunnel, with all teams believing that parity had been achieved. Chevrolet has been working on an aerodynamic upgrade package, while Toyota has undergone some recent engine mapping changes.
Ryan Wood and Toyota Celebrate Historic Win
Ryan Wood and Toyota celebrated their first Supercars win, marking a significant milestone for the brand. Wood expressed his delight after his victory and Mostert’s third-place finish. “A really, really great team result,” he said. “That’s the most important thing, we need to make sure that we keep moving forward.”
Wood added, “We’ve probably had good speed at times to start the year, but, to say that we’ve won a race and had a podium and we’ve shared the podium together in our third round with Toyota. If you told us that at the start of the year, I’m sure me, Chaz, and the rest of the team would be pretty ecstatic.”
Ford’s Strong Start and Team Changes
Ford’s strong start to the season can be attributed to their acquisition of the Triple Eight team, which included Broc Feeney and Will Brown from General Motors and Chevy. Brown and Feeney finished second and third in the 2025 championship, while Mostert won for Walkinshaw while they were still with Ford. Walkinshaw switched to Toyota in 2026.
The move has allowed Ford to maintain its competitive edge, despite the challenges posed by the new parity system. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how the teams will adapt to ensure fair competition across the board.
