In a dramatic and action-packed Supercars race, Kiwi sensation Matt Payne delivered a clinical performance to take his second victory of the weekend — and with it, the coveted Jason Richards Memorial Trophy.
The result also marked the fourth win of Payne’s blossoming career and the first time he’s taken two victories in a single round, further cementing his place in the 2025 title fight.
Chaos from the Get-Go:
It was an even launch off the front row, but drama struck immediately. Anton De Pasquale attempted a bold move around the outside but locked up heavily and skated off the circuit, shedding multiple positions.
Mid-pack chaos followed as Kai Allen was tipped into a spin — fortunately without damage, but the young gun found himself at the tail of the field.
Then came the first of many flashpoints: Brodie Kostecki and Ryan Wood went wheel-to-wheel through the rapid Turns 8 and 9.
The scuffle saw Kostecki with two wheels on the grass before lunging back up the inside at Turn 9. Both drivers ended up off-track, tumbling down the order and setting the tone for a chaotic afternoon.
Amidst the carnage, Cameron Hill seized the opportunity to jump to the front ahead of Matt Payne. Behind them, Thomas Randle made an assertive move on Wood for third at Turn 2 on Lap 2, a textbook overtake that would hold.
Veteran Will Davison had a torrid opening phase, falling five positions and sustaining damage, while Wood picked up a five-second time penalty for his part in the earlier altercation with De Pasquale.
Strategic Battles Begin to Unfold:
As the top four bunched up nose-to-tail, Hill led a fast-paced train, defending from Payne, who in turn had Randle breathing down his neck. Meanwhile, contact between James Courtney and Kai Allen led to tyre rub and visible smoke from Allen’s Commodore.
The fight for the lead escalated when Payne made a daring move at Turn 1. The pair ran side-by-side into Turn 2, forcing Hill to compromise his line. Payne pounced — even with two wheels on the grass — and snatched the lead. Randle followed him through, demoting Hill to third.
Will Brown was the first to blink, diving into the pits early from eighth in an attempt to leapfrog the pack via the overcut. This strategy gave him a clear track to work with, a critical advantage in a tightly contested race.
Payne used his stint in clean air wisely, carving out a gap over Hill, who managed to regroup after losing the lead. Wood was the first of the frontrunners to pit, serving his five-second penalty and rejoining behind Brown.
There was drama in Payne’s stop, where a tyre change confirmation error caused a slight delay, allowing Hill to close in as the pair rejoined the circuit. Brown’s early stop proved fruitful, lifting him to a net third, though concerns lingered about tyre life in the final stints.
Kostecki and Chaz Mostert soon dived into the pits, and Kostecki found himself sandwiched between Heimgartner and Wood on the rejoin, albeit with fresher rubber. He made swift progress, moving past both in short order.
On Lap 28, tyre wear caught up with Brown. Heimgartner and Mostert dispatched him in quick succession, and the Triple Eight driver was left hoping his early stop wouldn’t come back to haunt him.
Elsewhere, former Super2 rivals Kai Allen and Aaron Cameron reignited their rivalry with some bruising exchanges through the middle sector — culminating in Allen once again facing the wrong direction.
The Final Act: Tension to the Flag:
Broc Feeney’s strategy of running long was beginning to pay off. Armed with fresher rubber, he surged through the field, climbing as high as seventh after starting from 20th on the grid — a phenomenal recovery drive that may have championship implications.
Further up the road, Mostert was flying on his final set of tyres. He picked off Kostecki with a clever switchback at Turn 1 after the latter locked his rears defending. With that move, Mostert sealed a well-earned podium, recovering brilliantly from Saturday’s spin.
Will Brown found himself under post-race investigation for a pit stop infringement, but the nature of the issue remained unclear as the race continued. Meanwhile, Feeney continued to claw forward, passing both his teammate Brown and Will Davison to move into sixth — and putting key championship rivals in his rearview mirror.
In the final laps, Kostecki reported a suspected mechanical issue, again nursing a wounded car home just as he had in Race 1. Randle was initially in pursuit but dropped back, leaving Heimgartner and Feeney to close the gap.
The final lap provided more fireworks. Feeney attempted a bold move on Heimgartner at Turn 4 and made heavy contact, but Heimgartner somehow kept the car pointing straight and fended off the #88 Holden to hold on to sixth.
Payne Claims Victory:
Up front, it was a masterclass. Matt Payne remained composed and unchallenged, cruising to a 3.5-second win as he took the chequered flag to claim not just the race victory but the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy.
Cameron Hill capped off a stellar round with second place — his third podium in two rounds — while Chaz Mostert’s speed and racecraft earned him third after starting 9th.
Kostecki bravely brought his ailing Mustang home in fourth, again showing a promising pace despite unfortunate luck.
Heimgartner and Feeney finished line-astern in sixth and seventh, while Brown, Davison, and Golding rounded out the top 10.
Ryan Wood came home 11th after an early penalty derailed what looked to be a podium challenge.
Richie Stanaway crossed the line 13th ahead of Jaxon Evans in 14th.
Further back, fierce fights raged to the very end, including an electrifying four-car tussle for 18th involving Allen, Courtney, Murray, and Jones. Allen coming out on top of that battle, finishing 18th.
Championship Implications:
Despite finishing eighth, Will Brown extends his championship lead. But the big winner was Matt Payne, who rocketed into third place in the standings and staked a serious claim as a title contender.
With six different winners and three different round victors already in 2025, the season is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable and exhilarating in years. And if Payne’s double victory this weekend is anything to go by, we’re only just getting started.
