Why Payne's 2025 turnaround faces huge Darwin test

Supercars

18 Jun

The Penrite Racing young gun has taken a huge leap forward, and will need to do so again in Darwin

2 mins by Zac Dowdell

Chaz Mostert

Walkinshaw Andretti United

Darwin

Matt Payne has struggled in previous two years in Darwin
Penrite Racing star has made massive improvements in 2025
Three times a winner this year, Payne currently leading non-Red Bull driver in points

Matt Payne's start to the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship has been a true coming of age.

Through the opening five rounds of the season, the 22-year-old Kiwi has emerged as a genuine championship contender with three wins for the season and a runner-up finish last time out in Perth.

He was the class of the field on home soil in Taupō, claiming two of the three available wins and the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy, however his follow-up win in Tasmania was equally impressive.

The #19 Mustang completed a mammoth 48-lap stint home, and fended off a flying Broc Feeney to steal victory by just 0.05s, the third-tightest finish in ATCC/Supercars history.

Payne's performances in Tasmania and Perth were particularly noteworthy given the struggles both he and Penrite Racing had experienced at those venues in 2024.

However, Darwin could be the biggest test of Payne and Penrite Racing's status as championship frontrunners, with Hidden Valley Raceway being a particular trouble spot for both team and driver in Gen3.

Of the 18 drivers to have competed in all five races that have been held in Darwin since 2023, Payne has the second-worst average finish of all at a lowly 20.4, ahead of James Courtney on 21.2, and behind Thomas Randle (16.6).

Penrite Racing have also struggled with Payne's two former teammates David Reynolds and Richie Stanaway, only scoring a single top 10 finish courtesy of Stanaway on Sunday last year.

Whilst improvements year-on-year have been the story of Payne's season to date, any slip-up would all-but rule him out of Repco Sprint Cup contention.

Payne currently sits a career-best third in the championship, 123 points behind leader Broc Feeney, and only 51 points behind reigning champion Will Brown in second.

Should Payne climb above both Red Bull Camaros in the final three Repco Sprint Cup rounds in Darwin, Townsville, and Ipswich, he will secure himself a Finals berth before the Enduro Cup, where he will pair with five-time Bathurst winner Garth Tander.

Matt Payne's Gen3 Darwin results