Supercars Taupo: Further success for Payne vaults him as much as
Matt Payne benefited from Grove Racing’s speed and some unpleasant racing from the opposition to take his 2nd Supercars win of the weekend at New Zealand’s Taupo Motorsport Park.
Payne emerged from an opening lap skirmish to take the lead and drove to a traditional pit method to take his fourth Supercars race win by 3.19 seconds.
In doing so, Payne secured the Jason Richards Memorial prize, called for the popular NZ-born chauffeur who was taken by cancer in December 2011.
“It’s pretty unique, I’m lost for words, actually,” stated Payne, 22.
“I managed to get the lead early on, I knew I had to do that. I think we took a little an action in reverse [in certifying] however we worked hard for those couple of hours and it worked.”
Podium: Race winner Matthew Payne
, Grove Racing Ford Mustang GT, second place Cameron Hill, Matt Stone Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, third location Chaz Mostert, Walkinshaw Andretti United Ford Mustang GT Image by: Edge Photographics Second was a strong result for Matt Stone Racing’s Camera Hill, whose Chevrolet Camaro in fact took the lead (from 4th on the grid)on the opening lap when Anton de Pasquale ran wide at the opening corner in the Team 18 Chevrolet, and after that once again after the Fords of polesitter Brodie Kostecki (Dick Johnson Racing )and Ryan Wood (Walkinshaw Andretti United) delighted in some panel rubbing.
For the 2nd time in 24 hr, Kostecki needed to nurse his Mustang to the flag after suffering damage from contact, dropping him from 3rd to 4th, losing that place to his Saturday nemesis, Chaz Mostert (WAU).
It was a difficult Sunday for Triple 8 Racing. Will Brown began 12th and, when stuck in traffic, took the opportunity to make an early stop on lap 12. On a clear track, he made the subsequent undercut work, making his way to 8th at the flag.
Even even worse off prior to the race was team-mate Broc Feeney. He was all at sea in certifying and started from 20th, the automobile looking evil on the patchwork track surface. But he surged through the pack in the race, nearly taking sixth from Andre Heimgartner (Brad Jones Racing) on the last of the 61 laps.
Also Tickford Racing’s Camera Waters made strides from a lowly 18th grid spot up until postponed by a stubborn front-left wheel at his 2nd stop. He soldiered on to complete 12th at the end of the race.
As an outcome, Brown leaves New Zealand with a prolonged points lead, on 651 to Waters on 617. Payne vaults to 3rd on 605 ahead of Feeney.
The Supercars now set sail on the return leg to Australia, to race at Symmons Plains in Tasmania on 9-11 May.
Race 3 result:
In this article
Phil Branagan
Supercars
Matthew Payne
Grove Racing
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