How rookie Payne has impressed Reynolds

Penrite Racing veteran David Reynolds likes what he sees in the “methodical” nature of rookie teammate Matt Payne after just two rounds.

Payne, at 20, is the second youngest driver on the grid behind Broc Feeney, albeit by just two weeks.

Payne will turn 21 on October 3, with Red Bull Ampol Racing’s Feeney turning 21 on October 18.

In just two rounds, Kiwi young gun Payne has turned heads with a number of standout performances.

Payne battled ill health on debut in Newcastle and brought home finishes of 12th and 14th in his first solo starts.

At Albert Park, Payne qualified in the top 10 for three of the four sprint races, and raced towards the pointy end.

Heading to Perth, Payne is just 28 points from the top 10, and 78 points behind elder teammate Reynolds.

“He’s young and inexperienced, but he’s a very good driver,” Reynolds told Supercars.com.

'For someone his age, he's quite methodical'

“For someone his age, he's quite methodical and quite calculated.

“He knows what’s going on with the car, and what he’s trying to do out there.

“His results have been really good so far — much better than we expected."

While Payne's on-track performance has been solid, Reynolds has been equally taken aback by the New Zealand’s level-headedness off-track.

Payne was penalised over his role in the Race 5 incident that wiped out Anton De Pasquale and Macauley Jones.

With a maiden solo top 10 on the line, Payne was hit with a drive-through penalty — but he would later apologise to the teams involved, actions which also impressed Reynolds.

“He was good about that — he went down to apologised to the teams involved,” Reynolds said.

“You never want anyone to crash, but it happens sometimes.

“But if you do what he did and own up to it and apologise, you’re a better person for it.

“You gain respect amongst your peers in pit lane. Arrogance gets you nowhere."

Reynolds and Payne are eighth and 17th heading to next weekend’s Bosch Power Tools Perth SuperSprint.

Both drivers will help open Penrite Oil's new workshop on Wednesday at 5 Nexus Way, Bayswater from 5.00pm to 9.00pm local time.