Payne, Waters react to controversial moment of madness

Matt Payne and Cam Waters have reacted to their season-defining clash at Sandown, as both Ford drivers were eliminated from The Finals in dramatic fashion.

With 31 laps to go, Penrite Racing star Payne briefly moved up to fourth past Tickford Racing rival Waters, who fired back down the inside at Turn 4.

Waters clattered into the side of the #19 Penrite Mustang, and both Fords picked up damage. Payne's steering was bent, while Waters picked up a right rear puncture and a broken right front shock absorber.

The moment of madness dashed both drivers' Finals hopes, with winner Broc Feeney, Chaz Mostert, Will Brown and rookie Kai Allen qualifying for the bp Adelaide Grand Final.

Both drivers spoke on the broadcast post-race, and Payne took a dim view of his Mustang rival's race craft following an earlier clash on lap 1.

"It's obviously disappointing, to end obviously the championship hunt that way," Payne said on the broadcast.

"Just got in contact with Cam, which ultimately ended our race. Pretty frustrating. Just kind of trying to race him clean and yeah, just felt like I kind of got bombarded a little bit at Turn 4.

"I just feel like it was a bit rude. And I feel like it's pretty common with racing someone like that. Hey, that's just the way he wants to race. I think a lot of people know that in the paddock and I'm certainly gonna learn from it for sure.

"If you're outside the bubble, you just kind of do what you gotta do. But unfortunately, that was probably a little bit dirty. So yeah, it was just what he was thinking at the time. But, yeah ultimately ended our race and ended our championship."

In response, a "gutted" Waters said he was "dirty" on the Brown penalty, which was awarded for "unfairly gaining an advantage as a result of contact." However, Waters had no regrets over the situation, given Payne was holding down a Grand Final position at the time of the clash.

"Threw absolutely everything at that and obviously had to take as much risk as I could," Waters said.

"I had to try and win the race or finish a long way in front of the others. Had some ding dong battles out there. I don't know why everyone's racing me so hard, but it is what it is. We threw everything at it and as a team we just weren't quick enough. We definitely had a red hot crack, so that's all I can ask.

"He hit me at the start and it really upset me, so it was game on from there. And obviously he lunges me in into [Turn] 1. We were both off and throwing obviously everything at it.

"Obviously, it was bad to have both cars broken. But you know, for me, I had to have full attack, had to try and be in front of him. Not really sure why he raced me so hard when he didn't have to. But it is what it is."

Payne went from a position of security to tumbling out of the top four with steering damage, with teammate Kai Allen promoted into a shock Grand Final berth with a sixth place finish.

Allen will join, Broc Feeney, Chaz Mostert, and Will Brown in fighting for the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship at the bp Adelaide Grand Final from November 27-30. Tickets are on sale now.