Payne quickest, drivers push the limits in Christchurch practice

Kiwi star Matt Payne has landed the first blow at the ITM Christchurch Super 440, clocking the fastest time in the first ever Supercars session at Ruapuna.

In the very first competitive session at Ruapuna Raceway, it was normal service resumed for the Penrite Racing star, with Payne fastest of all through 45 minutes.

Payne, though, was only 0.0402s quicker than teammate Kai Allen, with Jason Richards Trophy leader Ryan Wood third ahead of James Golding and championship leader Brodie Kostecki.

PremiAir Racing rookie Jayden Ojeda was first Chevrolet home in fifth, with Thomas Randle, Anton De Pasquale, Rylan Gray and Broc Feeney rounding out the top 10.

The biggest loser was Cameron Hill, who brought his Toyota to a stop in the opening minutes. Hill sat in the garage for the balance of the session, depriving the Brad Jones Racing driver a chance to learn the track before qualifying.

Andre Heimgartner turned the most laps of the session with 20, while teammate Hill only had the one to his name.

Cars rolled out under sunny yet chilly skies, and 2024 Supercars champion Will Brown quickly jumped to the top with a 1:23.5739s, with Allen just 0.0029s behind.

However, just as drivers began to lay down their first laps, Hill brought his #14 Electro-Voice Toyota to a stop on the run to Turn 11. Brad Jones Racing reported that the #14 Supra lost RPM signal, with Hill replying that his car simply "conked out."

Bizarrely, both Red Bull Ampol Fords missed the pit lane and went around again as red flags flew, with the rest of the field returning to the lane. By that time, only five minutes in, drivers had been tightened up by the tyre bundles at pit entry, while plenty of concrete dust was being kicked up at the new kerbs.

As cars returned, Payne went down the inside of Feeney at the Turn 4 hairpin. Payne went around again and shot to the top with a 1:22.2908s. As fate would have it, Feeney went second, just 0.0798s behind.

After Payne improved his own number to a 1:22.2249s, Kostecki lowered the time to a 1:22.2126s. Before the final qualifying simulations, teams rolled through changes, but that didn't stop drivers pushing the limits.

Notably, Allen went wide onto the grass at Turn 2, before Wood spun at the same corner. Reigning champion Chaz Mostert, Declan Fraser and Heimgartner all kicked up dust and grass at Turn 3. Into the final 10 minutes, Wood kicked up grass as he drove down the grass verge along pit straight.

All the while, in a bid to understand tyre degradation at the new circuit, Randle laid down a long race run in his #55 Castrol Ford.

With eight minutes remaining, Kostecki returned and went fastest in the first sector, but again aborted his lap, leaving question marks over just how much pace the #17 Shell V-Power Mustang had at its disposal.

With four minutes left, Matt Stone Racing rookie Zach Bates charged from 13th to first on new tyres with a 1:22.0853s, before Feeney powered ahead by just 0.0524s. Mostert and Heimgartner then charged into the top three, as times continued to tumble.

Allen put the #26 Penrite Ford into the 1:21s with a 1:21.3418s, before Payne went even quicker with a 1:21.3016s. Wood, Ojeda and De Pasquale also moved towards the top, before Kostecki motored to fourth.

Brown ended up 17th, two positions behind Tickford Racing star Cam Waters.

Drivers return to the track for Boost Mobile Qualifying at 2:15pm local/12:15pm AEST, followed by the 120km sprint at 4:35pm local/2:35pm AEST.