The road to Bathurst officially begins at The Bend this September, with the full program for the AirTouch 500 now locked in as the opening round of the 2026 Ryco Enduro Cup.
Running from 11-13 September at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, the AirTouch 500 marks the start of endurance racing season and could prove pivotal in shaping the Repco Supercars Championship battle heading into the finals.
Contested across just two rounds, The Bend and Bathurst, the Ryco Enduro Cup presents a unique challenge for drivers and teams, with valuable championship points on offer and co-drivers playing a critical role in the outcome.
According to Supercars commentator Richard Craill, fans should expect the action at The Bend to have serious championship implications.
“The road to Bathurst starts at The Bend and it’s a hugely important weekend in both the context of the championship, as a key lead-in event to the finals, and as the opening round of the Ryco Enduro Cup.
Get it right and you’re set for the title fight, but get it wrong, and the upsets will start in South Australia and could be felt for the remainder of the season.”
Former Supercars Champion and Bathurst winner Garth Tander believes the spotlight will be firmly on the co-drivers as endurance combinations race together under genuine race conditions for the first time this season.
“The Bend is where co-drivers earn their stripes. It’s the first time these combinations race under real enduro pressure, and for a lot of them it’s their only hit-out against the main-game drivers before Bathurst. A quick co-driver can win you the Championship.”
Endurance Racing at Its Best
The AirTouch 500 will be contested over 147 laps and 500 kilometres of The Bend’s fast and technical West Circuit. Driver changes, pit strategy, tyre management and fuel calculations combine to make endurance racing one of the most unpredictable and exciting disciplines in Australian motorsport. [AirTouch50…st Release | PDF]
Tander says success will come down to the smallest details.
“Endurance racing is won in the details. The pit stops, the driver changes, when you run your co-driver, how you play the fuel and tyres. One slow stop, or a safety car at the wrong moment, flips the whole race. The West Circuit compresses all of it, and track position becomes everything.”
More Racing, More Entertainment
Supercars headlines a packed three-day program featuring some of Australia’s most exciting racing categories, including Porsche Carrera Cup, Touring Car Masters, Trans Am, Aussie Racing Cars and the Australian Prototype Series. Micro Speedway entertainment will also feature throughout the weekend.
Supercars Sessions
Friday 11 September
- Practice 1 (All Drivers) | 11:25am
- Practice 2 (Co-Drivers) | 1:45pm
- Practice 3 (All Drivers) | 3:40pm
Saturday 12 September
- Practice 4 (Co-Drivers) | 9:50am
- Practice 5 (All Drivers) | 12:00pm
- Qualifying | 2:45pm
- Top Ten Shootout | 5:00pm
Sunday 13 September
- Warm-Up | 10:15am
- AirTouch 500 | 1:45pm
Make a Weekend of It
Fans are already securing their spot, with almost 75% of the camping precinct booked and the new Infield Campground on pit straight filling fast. Only three of the nine premium glamping tents remain available.
Visitors can choose from trackside camping, premium glamping, Park ‘n’ View sites, Bend Holiday Park accommodation or a stay at the Rydges Pit Lane Hotel.
The event also includes free trackside parking, free shuttle buses, free pit paddock access and four fan zones spread throughout the venue.
A Weekend Fans Won’t Forget
The Bend Managing Director Dr Sam Shahin says creating memorable experiences for every visitor remains the focus.
“The focus this year is on making sure every visitor of The Bend creates a memory. We would have done our job if everyone’s wearing a smile on their face at the end of each day in what promises to be an epic event.
Some will leave heroes, others villains. In years to come, everyone will hopefully look back and fondly recall that they were there when The Bend sat on a pedestal alongside Bathurst as the only two venues that are part of the Endurance Series. I am very proud of that.”
Tickets On Sale Now
The AirTouch 500 takes place from 11-13 September 2026 at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park.
General Admission tickets start from $39, with children under four admitted free and kids attending free on Friday. Camping, grandstand seating and accommodation options are on sale now.
Get your tickets and plan your weekend now.
