Grove Racing driver Matt Payne has topped the opening practice session at the 2024 Repco Bathurst 1000, with a tightly contested time sheet foreshadowing another extremely competitive Great Race to come this weekend.
The 22-year old Kiwi took his No. 19 Penrite Ford Mustang to the top from Tickford Racing’s Cam Waters and championship leader Will Brown, with just three one-hundredths of a second separating the trio’s fastest lap times of the opening session.
Payne is expected to be in the mix at the front of the field all weekend; the Kiwi has already picked up wins on the streets of Adelaide and Townsville and is sharing the No. 19 Mustang with five-time Bathurst 1000 winner Garth Tander.
Fellow young guns Cameron Hill and Thomas Randle rounded out the top five in the hour-long session.
Several drivers tested the limits of the Mount Panorama Circuit in warm conditions in Practice 1, with several drivers running off-track, but all escaping any significant damage.
The Repco Supercars Championship returns to track this afternoon for Practice 2 at 4:55 p.m. AEDT, which will be reserved exclusively for co-drivers.
Boost Mobile Qualifying highlights tomorrow’s action before the famous Top Ten Shootout on Saturday, and the Great Race on Sunday starting at 11:30 a.m. AEDT.
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