Clash eliminates Waters, Payne as Feeney wins wild Sandown finale

A wild conclusion to the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 has culminated in Sunday victory for Broc Feeney and a clash that wiped Matt Payne and Cam Waters out of The Finals.

Red Bull Ampol Racing star Feeney controlled the wet-dry race to snap a three-month winless streak, guaranteeing himself top seeding for the bp Adelaide Grand Final on November 27-30.

A controversial clash between Payne and Waters dumped both drivers out of championship contention, along with Waters' Tickford Racing teammate Thomas Randle. It promoted Payne's Penrite Racing rookie teammate Kai Allen into the final four with Feeney, Saturday winner Chaz Mostert and Will Brown.

With 31 laps remaining, Waters and Payne collided disputing fourth, and both Fords sustained damage. Waters was forced into the lane twice, first for a puncture, and again with a broken shock absorber. Steering damage delayed Payne, the clashes ruining both drivers' seasons.

After an earlier clash with James Golding, Waters had already copped a five-second penalty over contact with Brown, who charged from 17th to the podium to secure his Adelaide spot.

Anton De Pasquale completed an all-Camaro podium. Mostert, meanwhile, survived a slide into the barriers to finish fourth, and will line up second behind Feeney for the Grand Final.

The race start was delayed by 20 minutes due to a oil spill during a support category race, which required extensive cleaning. All the while, the skies closed in.

When the lights finally went out, Feeney denied De Pasquale through Turn 1, with Mostert slotting in behind. De Pasquale challenged into Turn 10, but Feeney held on. On lap 5, De Pasquale made his move into Turn 1, and stole the lead.

Behind them, a racy Waters picked off Payne on the opening lap, and Randle followed his teammate through. On lap 2, Cameron Hill lost control from fifth and hit the barriers exiting Turn 9, and was forced into the lane.

As rain intensified on lap 6, Ryan Wood and Golding bailed out of it, and took on wet tyres. As Wood suffered a slow stop with a wheel nut issue, teammate Mostert picked off Feeney for second. With Wood stranded in the lane, Mostert had to press on for another lap as De Pasquale and Feeney stopped.

With the field all on wet tyres, De Pasquale led Feeney, Golding, Bryce Fullwood, Waters, Mostert, Payne, Allen, James Courtney and Brown, who was up to 10th from 17th.

Brown then got by Allen at Dandenong Road the next time by, before repeating the trick on the sister Penrite entry of Matt Payne a few laps later. On lap 14, a slide for De Pasquale helped Feeney attack into Turn 2, with the lead changing again.

Brown muscled past Mostert and the sliding Fullwood into fifth on lap 15. By that stage, Feeney and De Pasquale were seven seconds ahead of Golding, who had Waters for company. Brown quickly caught the duelling Golding and Waters, helping Feeney and De Pasquale skip away.

An attack into Turn 9 by Waters opened the door to Brown, who despite contact into Turn 1, got by the Monster Ford for fourth. Two laps later, Brown set Golding up into Turn 2 and fought by into third. A frustrated Waters fired down the inside on lap 26 at Turn 10, with contact forcing Golding straight into pit lane.

Drivers began to search for standing water to cool their tyres. On lap 35, Mostert was first to change to slick tyres, and despite a battle for grip through Turn 2, set about his own pace. Brodie Kostecki also responded for slick tyres, followed by Brown, Waters, Fullwood, Payne and Courtney on the next lap.

Mostert cleared them all on the run to Turn 1 as Brown battled for temperature, and contact from Waters sent the reigning champion through the Turn 2 grass, attracting a penalty for Waters. On the following lap, Fullwood tripped over the kerb and spun at the same corner.

With the field back on slick tyres, Feeney led De Pasquale, Mostert, Waters, Brown, Payne, Courtney, Allen, Kostecki and Fullwood. On lap 42, Mostert slid into the Turn 4 barriers and dropped from third to ninth, before Brown got back past the furious Waters.

Payne challenged Waters, who threw it straight back to his Ford rival. With 31 laps to go, they both ran wide at Turn 1, before a dive into Turn 4 from Waters led to contact.

Waters sustained a puncture and was forced into the lane, with Payne sustaining steering damage. Shock damage sent Waters back in as Payne pressed on, the Bathurst champion dumping positions.

Payne crawled into pit lane with 12 laps remaining, as Brown reeled in De Pasquale. However, De Pasquale held on as Brown opted to clinch his Grand Final spot. It did little to deter Feeney, who cruised to his 13th win of the season.

The 2025 Repco Supercars Finals Series concludes at the bp Adelaide Grand Final on November 27-30. Tickets for the season finale are on sale now.