Reynolds, Holdsworth advice steered Payne's first podium

Matt Payne says advice from Grove Racing’s Supercars veterans on starting in the wet influenced his first Super2 podium.

The Grove Motorsport teenager finished second in Sunday’s chaotic race in Sydney.

Payne finished fourth on Saturday, having started from a maiden pole position.

He arrived on Sunday with a point to prove, but a red flag in qualifying consigned him to sixth on the grid for Race 2.

With rain circling Sydney Motorsport Park, the notoriously slow-starting Payne sought advice from David Reynolds and Lee Holdsworth.

It paid dividends, with Payne avoiding the first lap carnage to rise to third.

That became second after a restart overtake on Declan Fraser, and that was where he remained.

Reynolds would later to be forced to complete a salvage job of his own in the main game Race 2.

"Coming into this weekend and we were looking to play it safe and show some good speed,” Payne said.

"After Race 1 on Saturday starting from pole position I felt like there was couple more opportunities I could have taken after finishing P4.

"This morning’s qualifying in the wet was difficult, we had speed but red flags stopped me from getting a good lap in.

"In Race 2 I spoke to David and Lee about how to get off the start line in the wet.

"I somehow got through all the carnage on Lap 1 and found my way to second place and hung on for a nice podium.

"It’s been a really positive weekend and we’ve scored some solid championship points so I want to build on the momentum for Round 2 in Perth."

Zak Best will take a 30-point lead over Payne to the next round in Perth. Tickets for the Perth event are on sale now.