Payne realises dream by matching van Gisbergen, McLaughlin feats
Matt Payne realises childhood dream with sensational Taupō weekend
22-year-old became third Kiwi to win Jason Richards Memorial Trophy
Payne also entered the top three in standings for the first time in his career
After claiming his maiden Jason Richards Memorial Trophy at ITM Taupō Super 440 last weekend, Matt Payne couldn't believe the esteemed company that he had entered.
The Penrite Racing young gun was in a class of his own on home soil, winning two of the three races to sweep to a popular victory in front of an adoring crowd, some 55 points ahead of Chaz Mostert who was second for the event.
The 22-year-old also claimed his first Boost Mobile Pole Award of the season for the first race of the weekend, as the young star emerged as a potential championship threat.
His Taupō successes doubled his career win tally, which now sits at four, and by claiming victory at home, he has joined a special group of New Zealand drivers to have tasted success at home.
Payne became just the third New Zealander to win the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy, joining three-time winner Shane van Gisbergen and 2018 winner Scott McLaughlin.
Payne also became the fifth Kiwi to win a Supercars race in their homeland, following van Gisbergen, McLaughlin, Greg Murphy, and Andre Heimgartner last year.
The 2023 Adelaide 500 winner said that it was McLaughlin's maiden win at Pukekohe in 2013 that was the inspiration behind his career-best weekend.
“It's been my dream to win in New Zealand,” Payne said on Supercars' Cool Down Lap podcast.
"The video of Scotty Mac when he stepped into the GRM car and he won at Pukekohe... that's definitely been playing on replay in my mind for the last few years.
“It’s just been something that I've always looked up to, especially even watching Shane at the last year in Pukekohe, to do what he did with Cam [Waters] and win that race — albeit was probably a bit more exciting than how I did it — but I don't care, I still won.
“To be part of a list with those guys is definitely a dream come true for me.”
Having entered the Taupō weekend sixth in the standings, Payne has vaulted to a career-best third in the championship, and is only 46 points behind championship leader Will Brown.
Whilst Payne is eager to further entrench himself into the championship fight, upcoming events at Tasmania and Perth pose a big challenge for Penrite Racing, who have struggled at both venues in recent years.
“Look, we are obviously in a good position in the championship now after a good weekend,” he said.
"I think it's probably, that probably shows as well from a lot of the other guys up front struggling, like obviously Red Bull didn't have the weekend they wanted... Cam obviously didn't have the week and he really wanted ultimately as well.
“So, I think it was sort of a bit of a mixed bag of points that came out of this weekend. And for us, we really took advantage of that and it shows. For us, we just really need to focus on what's gonna make us more consistent over the next few rounds.
"Two of sort of bogey tracks for us coming up, so we're gonna have to work hard to try and have speed at both of those as well. But definitely, everyone has their sight set on Bathurst and definitely the championship for me."
The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship continues at the Snowy River Caravans Tasmania Super 440 from May 9-11. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
