How Kiwi teen Payne is adapting to life in Australia

Grove Junior Team recruit Matthew Payne says he is enjoying adapting to life in Australia.

The young New Zealander relocated to the Gold Coast earlier this year to pursue his dream of reaching the top-tier of Australian motorsport.

The karting ace has already had experience living away from home, first travelling to Europe in 2017.

In 2019 he packed his bags and moved to Italy to race karts full-time, in the 2019 FIA European Karting Championship. He was 16 years old.

Returning to New Zealand when the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, the Pukehoke-born racer won the Kartsport NZ National Sprint Championship in the KZ2 class.

In 2021, Payne won the Toyota Racing Series title, having claimed podiums in all nine races, including five wins.

His maiden Porsche Carrera Cup season for Earl Bamber Motorsport saw the teen make a permanent move Down Under in March.

Success followed with Payne recording back-to-back pole positions and a win in Townsville.

Last month, the Kiwi was signed to the Grove Junior Team on a multi-year deal and is now in line to make some Dunlop Super2 Series starts.

“It's actually been really good,” Payne told Supercars.com.

“I've got a lot of people I know, especially on the Gold Coast, where I actually live.

Payne at the WSK Super Masters Series in 2020

“My manager is up there, he lives a couple of houses down from where I am, so it's a perfect setup, really.

“I’ve got plenty of friends to hang out with, we go and play squash or go out for dinner, and just cool things like that.

“Obviously, it's hard especially a young kid to step away from home, but I've been pretty lucky as I've lived away quite a few times, especially in 2019 and 2020, I lived away from home for quite a bit.

“I was already a little bit used to it, but this is probably the longest period of time I've been away from home.

“Obviously not racing a lot, makes it even harder, because your mind isn't really focusing on the races, if you know what I mean.

“It's easy to slip back into that “I want to go home” kind of thing.

“We try and focus as much as we can on where we're racing next and when we're testing next. It's a really important aspect for us.”

Earlier this month, Payne joined the Braeside-based team in Victoria to continue his development ahead of his Super2 debut.

He completed his first test aboard a Supercar last week, and toured Kelly Grove Racing’s headquarters.

Despite not being able to travel to New Zealand due to COVID-related border restrictions, the teenager is keeping busy during the break from racing.

Payne competed as an All Star for the Blanchard Racing Team in this year’s Cash Converters Supercars Eseries, claiming podiums at Charlotte, Monza and Watkins Glen.

“Sim racing is quite a big part of my life, I've done it for a very long time,” Payne said.

Payne competed in the Eseries for BRT

“But there are lots of things I like, I have small little hobbies, I really enjoy watching movies, and mountain biking is one I do a lot.

“Fitness I think is pretty important for every racing driver.

“I try to keep myself pretty busy, but not excessively.

“Hanging out with friends is so important for me and making sure that I'm not getting homesick and that I have good people around me.”

Tickets for all four upcoming Sydney events are on sale now.