Payne the real deal? Triple Eight trouble? Questions to be answered

The ITM Taupō Super 440 was Supercars racing at its heart-stopping best, but for some, New Zealand will be one to put in the rearview mirror.

One driver who will definitely be happy is Matt Payne, who became just the third New Zealander to win the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy.

Payne vaulted into third in the standings, and is just 46 points from the lead. Will Brown extended his lead, but the chasing pack all made inroads, setting up a crazy-tight battle for Repco Sprint Cup honours.

Heading to Tasmania, drivers from Brown in first to Brodie Kostecki in sixth are covered by just 111 points. Last year, the sixth-placed driver was 299 points down.

There's plenty to discuss from New Zealand, as we dive into our key questions below.

Is Payne truly in the fight for the title?

James: Matt Payne was burgled of a podium in Sydney by Thomas Randle, and after missing out in Melbourne, had to wait until New Zealand to claim silverware. So, why not make it two wins and a Jason Richards Trophy? Penrite Racing again prove that when it’s on, it’s unstoppable. Payne dominated the first and third races, and had he qualified better for the second, could have won all three. Only 46 points from the lead, Payne has to hope Penrite Racing doesn’t have a repeat of Tasmania 2024, when he couldn’t even qualify in the top 20.

Can Triple Eight quickly arrest the slide?

Zac: After decimating the field on Sunday at Taupo last year to the point where Will Brown and Broc Feeney were allowed to fight for the win, 2025 could not have been a more different story for Triple Eight. The new-for-2025 Soft tyre appeared to cause the reigning team’s champions some real setup headaches over the weekend, with both drivers displaying a concerning lack of pace right from the word go. The pace recovered in Sunday's race, but Feeney slipped to fourth in the championship, and whilst Brown's points advantage over Cam Waters increased, only 111 points cover he and Brodie Kostecki in sixth. Further slip-ups will be pubished, and Tasmania - being a strong circuit for the team historically - could be coming at a good time.

Can Tickford deliver on Waters' vow?

James: Cam Waters powered to second in the Taupō opener, and it had everyone thinking that he was back on the form that helped him to the podium in Sydney. Then, he finished 14th and 12th, the latter result coming after he made a mistake in qualifying. All told, despite getting a podium over Will Brown, Waters is now 34 points behind the reigning champion. Waters vowed to make Taupō his worst round of the season, and now it’s up to Tickford Racing to make sure he’s right.

Can DJR prove Taupō isn't a one-off?

Zac: 12 months ago when Anton De Pasquale lifted the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy, some theorised that Dick Johnson Racing was back after a disastrous 2023. Fast forward to the current day, and Brodie Kostecki has his breakthrough weekend at his new team in Taupō, whilst Will Davison also claimed a richly deserved podium. Is it a true breakthrough second time around, or will history repeat itself? Kostecki will certainly move heaven and earth to make sure it’s the former, and might have some scores to settle after being on the wrong end of two collisions while in strong positions, whilst Davison will also be eager to prove he’s worthy of remaining with the team for another season. 

Does WAU really have two drivers in the hunt?

James: Chaz Mostert was always expected to be a contender in 2025, and through three rounds, he's a race winner and just 86 points off the pace. However, Ryan Wood now has a podium to his name, and is just 72 points from seventh in the championship. Getting both drivers into the Finals would be a major achievement for any team, and Walkinshaw Andretti United now seems to have to two drivers who could be a challenge to overcome. Wood did have a chance to lead Sunday's race, but was punished for running Brodie Kostecki off the track. If the Kiwi can channel his aggression into results, WAU will be a handful.

Is Hill now lead driver at MSR?

James: Matt Stone Racing signed Nick Percat last year, and he delivered with two wins and the team’s first top 10 championship finish. Cameron Hill played second fiddle last year, having toiled through a tough rookie season in 2023. In 2025, Hill has turned the tables on Percat, winning at the Grand Prix and finishing second in the Taupō finale. Through three rounds, Hill is 141 points ahead of his veteran teammate, who had a self-labelled “nightmare” in Taupō. Matt Stone wants to get both drivers in the Finals, and while there’s plenty of racing to come, Hill looks the stronger of the two.

Where do drivers now stand on driving standards?

Zac: It has become one of the biggest Supercars talking points in recent memory, and once again driving standards were in the spotlight in New Zealand. Whilst there wasn't as much chaos as there was at the Australian Grand Prix, there was still plenty of vigorous action as all 24 drivers continue to figure out what where the line is drawn. There are still some controversial incidents, such as Ryan Wood’s aggressive Lap 1 move on Brodie Kostecki in Race 10, but there were some outstanding battles as well. Chaz Mostert and Kostecki boxed on for the lead in Race 9, ditto Matt Payne and Cameron Hill in Race 10. Driving Standards Advisor Craig Baird has been on the front foot in getting the field up to speed with the new style of racing, and once they're fully up to speed, the racing product could go to yet another level.