Brown battles through Ipswich chaos to end win drought

Will Brown charged through a chaotic finish to win Race 27 at Ipswich, ending a difficult stretch of his 2026 Supercars season.

The 2024 champion claimed his first win of the year and his first in more than 12 months following a challenging fortnight.

Credit: Samuel Densley Photography

Matt Payne led from pole, but Brodie Kostecki passed him exiting the final corner on Lap 2. Payne attacked at Turn 2 before Brown attacked around the outside of the Penrite Racing Ford at Turn 3.

Payne resisted Brown and chased Kostecki as they pulled clear. Behind them, Broc Feeney pressured Chaz Mostert, who struggled to maintain his tyre performance.

Kai Allen changed only two tyres during an early stop on Lap 14, allowing him to jump Kostecki and Payne during the opening pit cycle. Kostecki caught Allen on Lap 22 but carried too much speed into his attempted pass and ran through the gravel, allowing Payne and Brown to move ahead.

Rylan Gray then became stranded in the sand on Lap 24, bringing out the first Safety Car. Allen led the restart with 10 laps remaining despite running two changed tyres against Payne’s fresher four-tyre package.

Chaos erupted behind the leader when Mostert defended from Feeney at Turn 3 before James Golding was spun at Turn 4. Brown then launched an aggressive move on Payne at Turn 2 to take second, with Kostecki also passing the championship leader at Turn 6.

Payne reported problems with his shift cut and a left-front tyre rub as he began falling backwards. A second Safety Car followed when Tickford wildcard Ben Gomersall became stuck at Turn 6 after an incident also involving Cooper Murray and Jobe Stewart.

When racing resumed, Brown attacked Allen at Turn 2 on Lap 34 and claimed the race lead. Kostecki followed him through, while Feeney briefly moved into second before the Dick Johnson Racing driver regained the position.

Brown controlled the remaining laps to complete an important comeback victory. Kostecki finished second ahead of Feeney, while Allen held fourth after leading much of the closing section.

Mostert finished fifth, followed by Payne, Cam Waters, David Reynolds, Thomas Randle and Anton De Pasquale. Payne’s sixth-place result ensured the Repco Sprint Cup battle would continue into the final day at Ipswich.

For Brown, the victory provided a powerful response to a tough season and proved the defending champion remains fully capable of fighting at the front.