Payne stamps Supercars credentials with Bathurst win
Joanna Guelas |
Newly-minted Bathurst 1000 champion Matt Payne could be the man to deliver Ford their first Supercars title in five years.
The Grove Racing young gun is second in the standings after triumphing in one of the most extraordinary races at Mount Panorama in its 65-year history.
The New Zealander prevailed amid heavy rain and multiple crashes to claim his first Bathurst title, alongside co-driver Garth Tander.
Still, Payne admits a Supercars title is “the ultimate goal”.
The 23-year-old has stitched together a career-best season so far since his 2023 full-time debut, boasting four race wins, nine podiums and one pole position.
Payne propelled himself into championship contention in April after taking out two of three sprint races at the Taupo 440, leaving New Zealand with the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy.
“Bathurst was always very high on our list when I first joined Supercars,” Payne said on Monday.
“And also the JR Trophy was very high, but the championship has always been the ultimate goal.
“We’re just doing everything we can to work towards that and try and lock that out.”
Triple Eight star Broc Feeney remains at the top of the Supercars series standings despite finishing sixth, but he takes a slim 30-point lead ahead of the inaugural finals.
Payne and Feeney are among 10 drivers set to take their championship hunt across a three-round sudden-death series, starting with the Gold Coast 500.
Points will reset between finals rounds and should Feeney suffer a similar fate on the Gold Coast, his bid for a maiden title will be over.
Tander, who claimed Australia’s most prestigious motorsport race for the sixth time, believes Payne should take confidence heading into the post-season.
The last time Ford won the Supercars series was Scott McLaughlin’s triumph in 2020.
“Matt’s done such a good job this year,” Tander said.
“Going into the endurance campaign, he was second, and the team was second in the team’s championship – they continue to be that.
“The team’s going to some tracks that the car has been very fast at traditionally.”
A crash by Feeney – who finished sixth – was among the many dominoes that fell en route to Payne’s victory on Sunday.
He was third when he slammed into the wall at Forrest’s Elbow with 35 laps remaining.
Payne crossed the finish line in second but claimed victory after race leader James Golding received a five-second penalty for colliding with Erebus rookie Cooper Murray in the dying laps.
Payne, who also won the inaugural Enduro Cup, almost gave up the race victory after a final lap skirmish with Golding and third-place David Reynolds.
“Well, I didn’t really want to let him (Golding) go. I really wanted to win it outright,” Payne said.
“We slowed up a little bit there when the track started to dry out a bit, and Jimmy, he was so fast. His thing came alive.
“I just had to give him the position, and Dave was so close behind me – we had to focus on that.”
Golding was made to settle for third with Erebus driver Murray fourth.
Reynolds and Golding won’t feature in the finals, with the pair finishing the regular season 16th and 18th.
Defending champion Will Brown is third in the standings after finishing 17th, followed by Tickford rival Cam Waters – who was 12th.
Other finals contenders are Dick Johnson Racing star Brodie Kostecki, Chaz Mostert and young gun Ryan Wood.
Supercars action returns on October 24 with the Gold Coast 500, before the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide grand final.
AAP
