Bend to open 2026 Hi-Tec Oils Super Series

After a successful return to Mallala, the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series has announced it will remain in South Australia for the 2026 opener.

Shell V-Power Motorsport Park will host the opening round of the 2026 season on March 13-15.

The AASA run national series, skipped The Bend this year, with a historic trip to Mallala taking place.

The rest of the 2026 calendar is to be confirmed, but the flagship 2 Days of Thunder event will return, having been successfully run at Queensland Raceway.

This will be one of two rounds held at the “Paperclip” next year.

But Shell V-Power Motorsport Park looms as an ideal opener, according to Super Series Manager Carolyn Oldano.

“The Bend is the perfect venue to launch our season,” Oldano said. “It’s always a pleasure to return there, and we can’t wait to kick off 2026 in style.”

“It’s fantastic to be heading back to The Bend after a year away. The circuit is one of the premier facilities in the country, and it really sets the tone for a professional and exciting season.

“The climate in March is ideal. Traditionally, we’ve started the season in February at Winton, which can be very hot and challenging. The Bend in March gives competitors, crews, and fans a much more comfortable start to the year.”

The announcement follows a historic and publicised trip to Mallala last weekend, where the likes of Jarrod Hughes, Joel Heinrich, Paul Morris and Blake Tracey battled for TA2 glory.

“I was thrilled to see Mallala come back to life, it was incredible to have national motor racing back at Mallala Motorsport Park after so many years,” Mallala and Shell V-Power Motorsport Park Motorsport and Operations Manager Adam Brook said.

“The Hi-Tec Oils Super Series team put on a really well-run event, the positive feedback during and since about the event and Mallala itself has been amazing.

“We can’t wait to have the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series back at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park in 2026, with a huge variety of categories and large entry lists across all racing championships. It will be another cracking event.

“The facilities here at Shell V-Power Motorsport make it the perfect place to launch a series. Last time the Super Series was here in 2024 it produced memorable racing and next year will be no different.”

For the first time in seven years, national-level racing returned to Mallala with the TA2 Muscle Car Series leading the way with two young guns impressing the crowd.

Daniel Reynolds and Alex MacDonald battle for Formula Vee honours at Mallala. Image: David Batchelor

While Jarrod Hughes used the round to further cement his title, Blake Tracey also took the opportunity to continue his rapid rise.

After a maiden Trans Am win at The Bend, Tracey claimed more silverware by taking round honours on TA2 debut.

He did it by only five points, holding off the consistent Heinrich, while Hughes also took two wins.

The Formula Ford Stars and Renegades Series went on the journey to Mallala, where two drivers reigned supreme.

The round proved to be a battle between Lachlan Evennett and Kobi Williams with the rest in their wake.

Evennett took two wins before Williams took an important win in the finale.

The Saturday Innovation Race Cars wins were split by Geoff Emery and Lee Stibbs, but there was drama at every turn.

John Goodacre was an early threat, but spun out, while Stibbs ran out of fuel in the opener, only to go from last to first in the second dash.

This put Stibbs in striking distance of a perfect Sunday as the English-born racer smashed them.

A rookie stole the show in Legend Cars Australia, with Ruben Dan taking everyone by storm.

Dan took pole by four tenths and converted it to a Saturday sweep despite a challenge from Dylan Thomas.

Aiden Williams denied his hopes of a stunning, perfect weekend in the inverted grid race.

But Dan still won four of a possible five races, including the finale, where he kept Thomas at bay by three tenths.

Formula Vee proved to be a stage where Alex MacDonald and Daniel Reynolds proved why they are battling for the title.

The opening race was a highlight as it went down to the final corners.

Macdonald had the inside into Turn 8, and then hung tough around the outside, which meant he was able to steal the victory from Reynolds at the final turn.

Reynolds hit back in Race 2, winning by 4s after MacDonald made some unforced errors.

This gave Reynolds the advantage for the rest of the weekend as he swept Sunday, even after a thrilling finale where three-tenths was the difference.

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