Welcome to the first round of the Ryco Enduro Cup!

‍

We head to South Australia for the first of two visits in 2027 as racing returns to Tailem Bend this week.

‍

Whilst we return to a familiar track, it’s a different layout that we will run in 2026, with the West Circuit playing host to this year’s 500km Enduro.

‍

The venue’s 3.41km West Circuit will be the 2026 battlefield compared to the longer 4.95km International layout featured in 2025.

‍

The West Circuit is a shorter and more condensed layout than the International circuit, the layout brings the action closer together, with a mix of high-speed corners and heavy braking zones.

‍

Whilst there are big run offs and room when going wide, the time lost on track will no doubt put you in serious traffic if you step off line during the race.

‍

We depart Campbellfield early this week, heading across the border with two of our PacLease DAF trucks towing materials and three Gen3 Ford Mustangs.

‍

Waters heads into the round with the experienced Mark Winterbottom returning for his second Ryco Enduro Cup as co Driver in the #6 Monster Energy Mustang. Whilst Randle is joined by Enduro debutant and Dunlop Series driver Reuben Goodall making a collective push to secure a place in the Finals.

‍

We also see the final running of the 2026 Wildcard program with the latest Supercars debutant Campbell Logan partnering in the #5 UNIT Racing Mustang with Ben Gomersall who steered the car last round at QR.

‍

The drivers have spent the earlier part of last week together for their yearly enduro driver camp. A chance for all six drivers to come together to train and prepare for two big races during the Ryco Enduro Cup.

‍

As mentioned we run the shorter West Circuit at Tailem Bend, typically a windy location in South Australia that will no doubt test the drivers abilities to keep the car on the track.

‍

TAILEM BEND QUICK STATS

‍

DISTANCE: 3.14KM | TURNS: 17 | LAPS: 147

‍

The West Circuit was used during the 2020 season which was impacted by COVID, meaning the only drivers to cut laps here are Waters and Winterbottom when in the Gen2 era.

‍

2025 RESULTS

‍

Waters/Winterbottom: Qualified: 3rd | Finished: 2nd

Randle: Qualified: 6th | Finished: 9th

Gomersall/Logan: NA

‍

Strategy will play a large roll with an incrwased number of laps meaning teams can play with how to they want to attack the weekend.

‍

The return of the fuel towers, increase in pit stops and weather are just a number of the variants that will play into the final strategy meeting once we hit the track on Sunday morning ready to race.

‍

THE BEND 500 RACE FORMAT

RACE 29 500KM | Soft Tyre | Nil CPS | Nil Tyres Minimum  

‍

We are very excited to head to The Bend and get the Enduro Cup campaign underway, the focus is to execute a strong round overall but plenty that all six drivers are looking to achieve individually.

‍

Hopefully we will see many of our members and partners out there this weekend showing their support!

‍

#6 Driver Cam Waters said:

‍

Great to welcome back Frosty in the car this week as we kick off our Ryco Enduro Cup campaign.

‍

Walking away from QR with Finals qualification was a great result for the team and allows us to focus on executing two really strong rounds. Frosty and I had a great test day the other week and we feel like we got a lot out of that day that will help over this weekend

‍

The West circuit will be interesting to run for the Enduro, it should offer some good racing across the 500km’s. We had a strong result here last year and will be looking to go one better to be on that top step come Sunday afternoon

‍

#6 Driver Mark Winterbottom said:

‍

Really excited to be partnering again with Cam as we kick off the Ryco Enduro Cup.

‍

12 months on from returning to the team and the Enduro races, I feel like the body is better prepared and the laps we covered at QR the other week have been great to reacquaint myself with the #6 Monster Energy Mustang.

‍

The second place here last year was fantastic, but we know we want to leave this weekend with that top step on the podium to build momentum into Bathurst

‍

#55 Driver Thomas Randle said:

‍

It’s great to be heading into the Ryco Enduro Cup this week at The Bend. Looking forward to teaming up with Reuben, it’s an exciting time for him and being a local I’m sure he will have plenty of friends and family cheering us on!

‍

We have built some really good momentum in the car the last few rounds, so we will be looking to learn from QR and the test day to try and extract more of that race car pace to give ourselves the best chance at The Bend. It has been a happy hunting ground for me in the past and we know what the task ahead is come Sundays 500km race.

‍

It’s been a big and busy lead in to the weekend, we have all been working hard with the engineers and we are ready to attack this weekend to get the #55 Castrol Racing Mustang up the front of the field again

‍

‍#55 Driver Reuben Goodall said:

‍

It’s great to be kicking off my first Ryco Enduro Cup with the team on home soil this week.

‍

I am looking to build on all the positives that I was able to takeaway from my Supercars debut in Townsville and support Thomas and the #55 Castrol Racing team in securing strong results over the next two rounds.

‍

It will be fantastic to have so many of my friends and family out at The Bend this weekend, and have had a great lead into this weekend spending last week in Melbourne with the team preparing for the event

‍

#5 Driver Ben Gomersall said:

‍

Excited to be jumping back in the UNIT Racing Gen3 Mustang this week.

‍

My solo debut had plenty of great moments and a lot to learn from, so I will be looking to put those learnings into action this weekend.

‍

Really excited to do it all with Campbell as he makes his debut and we will be looking to execute a really clean weekend on track

‍

#5 Driver Campbell Logan said:

‍

Beyond pumped to be making my Supercars debut this weekend as we kick off the Ryco Enduro Cup.

‍

This has been a long time in the making and seemed impossible at the start of the season, but I am just keen to get those first laps under the belt on Friday. We have had a great lead into this week with a huge test day our at QR last round, so I am feeling really confident.

‍

A big thanks goes to my family, my sponsors, the Tickford Racing team and Ben and his family for welcoming me on board to tackle The Bend together.

‍