New Zealand young gun Matthew Payne has been touted as the next big thing out of New Zealand. Can the rookie follow in the footsteps of the likes of Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen?
New Zealand young gun Matthew Payne has been touted as the next big thing out of New Zealand. Can the rookie follow in the footsteps of the likes of Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen?
Payne made his main game debut in 2023 with Penrite Racing, and a year of promise ended with a crushing victory in Adelaide.
In 2022, he challenged for the Super2 title, and also made his Great Race debut alongside Lee Holdsworth.
It has been a rapid rise for Payne, who competed in the 2021 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia season.
The Auckland teenager is a multiple karting champion, including the KZ2 National Sprint Championship.
He also enjoyed success overseas before focusing on circuit racing.
Payne won the 2021 Toyota Racing Series and finished third in the New Zealand Grand Prix behind Shane van Gisbergen.
He was later confirmed as the first recipient of the Team Porsche NZ scholarship under the tutelage of Earl Bamber.
