In what could only be described as a strategic masterclass, Matthew Payne, the rising star of Penrite Racing, roared back to victory lane at the NTI Townsville 500 sending the world of supercars news into a spin. The 21-year-old Kiwi driver defied expectations with a strategic gamble that propelled him to the top step of the podium in the 250km race. While it was a forgettable day for Will Brown and Triple Eight racing who finished 24th.
Payne, who tasted victory at the VAILO Adelaide 500 last November, showcased his tactical prowess by employing a three-stop strategy to place the Grove Racing Ford Mustang at the front of the field with 22 out of 88 laps left. This audacious plan proved to be a masterstroke in his success, as he managed his tires expertly throughout the gruelling 88-lap battle on the Reid Park circuit.
Since drivers had varied plans, the 250km races produced a lot of drama and unpredictable racing. The main contenders for the Sunday race did not emerge until after the midway point, whilst the Saturday race was characterised by thrilling clashes and unpredictable weather. The format created the ideal conditions for what has been a fiercely competitive few rounds, with six different polesitters in seven starts and seven different victors in nine starts.
The race witnessed a major shakeup in the championship chase thanks to a first-lap crash for championship leader Will Brown. This incident left the door wide open for others to capitalise. Payne, along with Cam Waters and Chaz Mostert, seized the opportunity, finishing first, second, and third respectively.
Brown’s misfortune was compounded by further contact with other drivers, sending him spinning and ultimately relegating him to a disappointing last-place finish. This incident also affected his teammate Broc Feeney, who narrowly avoided a collision but dropped positions.
The early stages of the race saw Waters take the lead after a slow start from pole-sitter Jack Le Brocq. However, chaos erupted behind them, with Brown’s crash impacting the race dynamics.
Payne, having made his first pit stop early under a declared “wet track” condition, emerged with a strategy that allowed him to build a gap on his rivals. This tactic proved highly effective, as Payne maintained a consistent pace throughout the race.
The pit stop strategies played a crucial role in determining the outcome. Mostert, after a long second stop, found himself battling through traffic upon his return, hindering his progress. Waters, after initially leading the race, was eventually forced to pit, handing the lead to Payne.
Payne’s strategic brilliance shone through in the latter stages. He expertly navigated traffic upon exiting the pits, maintaining his lead over Waters. Mostert, despite putting pressure on Waters for second place, was unable to find a way past.
With a dominant display of strategy and controlled driving, Matthew Payne crossed the finish line first, etching his name in Townsville history as the youngest winner in recent memory. This victory not only propelled him into championship contention but also served as a coming-of-age moment for the young driver as well as making the Penrite Racing driver the seventh different winner of the 2024 season.
Penrite Racing demonstrated its ability to lead the pack late last year with impressive victories on the Gold Coast and in Adelaide. And, although it showed a few performances in the first few rounds of 2024, the team is here to win and win championships, but hadn’t quite turned those starts into victories prior to Sunday. The team nailed it throughout the weekend, with Matt Payne dominating on a track famously demanding on tyres, which had caught the team off guard so far this season.
For the first time in 2024, Triple Eight didn’t have the answers to the notoriously tricky Townsville track. Team boss Jamie Whincup was visibly frustrated post race by calling the title leaders’ “worst day of the year” on Sunday, with Will Brown crashing out of contention following a collision with David Reynolds, and Broc Feeney finishing seventh after recovering from his own first-lap incident. The team remained dominant in both title races, but Tickford Racing, Walkinshaw Andretti United, and Penrite Racing all gained valuable points throughout the weekend to seriously challenge the title leaders.
As we check off the halfway point of the supercars season, Payne is now fifth in the championship, but 450 points behind. However, if the team repeats its Sunday performance under lights in Sydney, the young Kiwi who doesn’t turn 22 until October might pose a serious threat to the title contenders.
Stay up to date with all the latest motorsport news from here and around the world, as we look forward to the Panasonic Air Conditioning Sydney SuperNight on July 19-21 from the Sydney Motorsport Park.
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