New Zealand’s Matt Payne has scored back-to-back wins to conclude a dramatic final day at the inaugural ITM Christchurch Super 440.
Payne led away from pole and was virtually untouchable in the 61-lap, 200-kilometre race. With sophomore teammate Kai Allen finishing second, it is Grove Racing’s first 1-2 in team history.
“A perfect race for us,” said Payne. ” We were fast and it was enjoyable. I felt pretty calm heading into the race. We were able to execute the race we wanted after the start. Shame about ‘Woody’ (Ryan Wood) and I feel sorry for him as he was on for the ‘JR’.”
Broc Feeney finished third to not only take the lead of the championship, but win the coveted Jason Richards Memorial Trophy.
“That was a roller-coaster of a race,” said Feeney. “Thoughts go to Woody (Ryan Wood). We have had our differences but I feel for him. I didn’t know Brodi (Koteski) and I were tied after the restart and I also feel for him going off as he did.
“It was so challenging so to win this (Jason Richards) Trophy is really special as we haven’t been the fastest over these two (NZ) rounds.
Wellington’s Ryan Wood was in position to claim the JR Trophy, only for his Toyota engine to fail with just six laps to go in the race.
Despite not winning any of the six races held in New Zealand, Feeney scored the most points in the two-event swing to earn the JR Trophy.
Wood stopping on-track led to a brief Safety Car, which then had Feeney and Brodie Kostecki tied on points for the JR Trophy.
“It’s a real bitter pill to swallow but I am so proud of every individual in our team,” said Wood. “It’s really gutting as Jason is someone I looked up to as a little kid.”
Kostecki then clashed with Wood’s teammate Chaz Mostert following the restart, sending Kostecki spinning across the track at high speed and out of contention.
Mostert was hit with a massive 30-second penalty for his role in the incident, which allowed Feeney to sprint clear for the iconic trophy named for the late former Supercars driver Jason Richards.
“Not the outcome I wanted,” said Mostert. “Brodie (Kostecki) was pretty adventurous down there at (turn) two and bowled me wide so I let him know what I thought. As I said, not what I wanted. We made wheel to wheel contact and it spat me wide.”
All made for a wild finish to Supercars first visit to the South Island of New Zealand, highlighted by Saturday and Sunday sell outs at Ruapuna Raceway, with a weekend attendance of 65,806 in the inaugural Christchurch Supercars event.
Following two intense weekends of racing in Taupō and Christchurch, Supercars will now head back to Australia for the remainder of the 14-event season.
The next event is the Tyrepower Tasmania Super 440, taking place May 22-24 at Symmons Plains Raceway.
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