Payne: Taupō exposed teams with poor tyre life

Matt Payne says Taupō exposed teams with poor tyre life
Payne dropped from pole to P4 in Taupō finale
Taupōone of the most abrasive surfaces on the calendar

Supercars’ newest circuit showed which teams have good tyre life and which teams don’t, says Penrite Racing driver Matt Payne.

Last weekend's ITM Taupō Super400 was held on the one of the most abrasive surfaces on the calendar, and a number of teams were caught out.

That included Payne, who started from pole in Sunday’s dry race, but fell back in the opening stint and came home a distant fourth, with Triple Eight dominating.

Payne, however, said his team is a “work in progress” and was pleased to have one-lap pace.

"Not too bad of a result today – P4 – I'll take it, it's good points,” Payne said after Sunday’s race.

ONBOARD: Payne takes All Blacks legend Dan Carter for hot lap

“Probably not so good when you're starting from first but, hey, it's alright. We probably didn't have the car today; we just struggled with the tyre life.

“So, we'll get there, we're a work in progress, so we're not giving up at all. If anything, we're going to keep pushing harder, keep persevering.

“It's very positive to have the speed in qualifying and be able to put ourselves in a good position for the race.

“I think this weekend really separated the cars that had good tyre life and the cars that have really poor tyre life."

The Kiwi driver’s early rounds have been undone by a DNF and 14th in Melbourne, following collisions with Ford rivals Cam Waters and Chaz Mostert.

First lap: Waters, Slade collide in chaotic start

In the Taupō opener, Payne was turned around at the first corner, and is fifth in the standings behind teammate Richie Stanaway.

Team owner Stephen Grove said: “We just didn't have the pace at Taupō. “It was a solid weekend, but I wouldn't say more than that. There were opportunities we missed.

“The positive this weekend is that Richie Stanaway is back. It was good to see. He was out there fighting.