Reynolds, Payne take in 'cracking' visit to Launceston

Penrite Racing drivers David Reynolds and Matt Payne made a pit stop in Tasmania over the weekend, as the Apple Isle revs up to welcome the Repco Supercars Championship May 19-21 for the NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint at Symmons Plains International Raceway outside Launceston, the 50th Supercars race event at the venue.

The Penrite Ford Mustang drivers stopped by the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania (NAMT), and also learned to crack whips at AgFest in Carrick, which welcomes tens of thousands of Tasmanians annually.

The duo will return to the NAMT near Launceston’s CBD next Thursday, May 18, as Supercars hosts a welcome party at the museum.

Festivities include an autograph session with all 25 Repco Supercars Championship drivers from 4:30-5:30pm, live radio from LAFM, a Penrite Gen3 Mustang Supercar on site, and activities from the Supercars SuperKids Zone providing entertainment for all ages ahead of the beginning of on-track action.

Reynolds, winner of the 2017 Repco Bathurst 1000, is growing ever closer to claiming his first race win since the 2018 finale, and sits sixth in the 2023 Supercars standings.

Next weekend’s event will be the Albury native’s 12th visit to Symmons Plains, where in 2022 he finished on the podium in Race 4 of the 2022 season.

Payne, who has been mighty impressive early in his rookie Supercars season, took a liking to the cool, drizzly Tasmanian autumn weather, comparing it to Dunedin in his home country of New Zealand.

Not only has the 20-year old Aucklander never raced at Symmons Plains, Friday’s visit to Launceston was the first time Payne set foot in Tasmania.

Now based on the Gold Coast, the young gun sits 12th in the current championship standings and is eager to build on his impressive start to 2023 next weekend.

The NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint takes place May 19-21 at Symmons Plains International Raceway, the first time ever the full field of Gen3 Supercars will take to the track in Tasmania.

Supercars will hold three races across Saturday and Sunday, with support category competition from Formula Ford, Aussie Racing Cars, Porsche Sprint Challenge, and Tassie Tin Tops. Drifting displays and aerial displays will complement the racing action, while the SuperKids Zone makes its first trip to Tasmania.

Festivities celebrating the NED Whisky Tasmania Supersprint begin Thursday with Supercars’ welcome party at the National Automotive Museum of Tasmania, running from 3:00-6:00pm, before on-track action begins on Friday, May 19.

Live coverage of the Tasmania event, the fourth round on the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship calendar, can be found on Foxtel with streaming available on Kayo.

Tickets for the NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint can be found at supercars.com and via Ticketek.