Payne forecasts Sydney Friday night sprint race chaos

Matt Payne expects the red mist to descend on the grid in the first race of the new season at the Thrifty Sydney 500 - Opening Round.

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship will commence with a 100km sprint race on Friday night at Sydney Motorsport Park, followed by 200km refuelling races on Saturday and Sunday.

Bragging rights are up for grabs on Friday night, with the driver talking away with the first win of the season, the points lead and the early running for the Repco Sprint Cup.

Drivers will be armed with 26 laps to make their presence felt on Friday night, with Sydney hosting the very first season-opening race on a Friday on Australian soil.

Penrite Racing driver Payne firmly believes the gloves will be off, likening the sprint to the action-packed short Australian Grand Prix races.

"Three races is pretty cool. Racing on Friday, with the shorter race, is going to be cool as well,” Payne told Supercars.com.

"There'll be a bit of action because everyone's sort of, 'Whoa, we're in it now’. It's going to be all game on there.

“But, I think the racing is going to be good nevertheless… it’s kind of like AGP when you have four races and everyone suddenly turns into a monster, including yourself.

“The racing is just so full-on, the moves are do-or-die, so you’ve just gotta be on your game. I think having three races is awesome, the more racing for us, the better."

Payne, who charged from 10th to second in last year’s Sydney opener, reiterated that every race and position is more crucial than ever as drivers aim to secure a place in the Finals.

Fastest lap bonus points will also be on offer for all Repco Sprint Cup races, meaning drivers could leave Sydney with a maximum of 315 points.

“With this new championship format, every race counts,” the New Zealander said.

"You just can't afford to lay off the hammer, you just need to be consolidating points every single race. It’ll put the pressure on people to make those moves where they probably wouldn't have.”

The new-look field will roll out at the pre-season test day at Sydney Motorsport Park on February 19, and Thrifty Sydney 500 - Opening Round on February 21-23.

Tickets for the test day and Sydney 500 - Opening Round are available now.