Payne supreme, De Pasquale stuns in Christchurch Shootout

Matt Payne has claimed his second pole position of the ITM Christchurch Super 440 with a dominant run in the Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout.

The Kiwi was once again in a class of his own, backing up his provisional pole to set a 1:20.9824s, leading a Chevrolet and a Toyota on the grid.

Anton De Pasquale used a unique tyre strategy to vault his DEWALT Camaro up to second on the grid, whilst Ryan Wood made it two Kiwis in the top three in his Toyota.

However, there were tales of woe further back in the pack, as Ford drivers Brodie Kostecki and James Golding both made big errors that left the further back in the 10.

Cam Waters set down the first benchmark, and it was a strong run for the Monster Mustang, a 1:21.3991s representing his best time of the weekend.

Aaron Cameron was next in the LIQUI MOLY BLAHST Ford and was up a tenth to the first sector, only for the margin to swing back the other way through the remainder of the lap, falling 0.0731s shy on a used tyre.

Jason Richards Memorial Trophy leader Ryan Wood was next, and there was plenty of interest after Walkinshaw TWG Racing swung the changes following a puzzling qualifying session.

The #2 Toyota looked to get better and better throughout the lap, and the local favourite punched out a 1:21.1295s to put three tenths on his qualifying lap, and 0.2696s on Waters.

Friday winner Kai Allen was the first to try and bump Wood off the top, but he was unsuccessful, only going to second, and two tenths down.

The sole Chevrolet in the Shootout looked to have an answer, Anton De Pasquale going fastest through Sector 1, with Team 18 electing to put fresh right side tyres on the Camaro.

It paid dividends, but only just, De Pasquale becoming the new benchmark by the ridiculous margin of 0.0002s.

2024 Supercars champion Will Brown was next up in the #888 Red Bull Ampol Ford, and could only go to third, but was only 0.062s away from the De Pasquale benchmark.

The benchmark qualifier of 2025, Broc Feeney, was next up next, but despite setting the fastest final sector of all he could only go fourth, 0.0697s off provisional pole.

Race 11 winner Brodie Kostecki was next up, but his lap was compromised early by a massive moment through the dirt at Turn 3, before two snaps of oversteer at Turn 11 pushed him all the way back to sixth.

James Golding was the penultimate runner, and any chance of a second pole for the season evaporated with an enormous lock up at Turn 1 that threw the CoolDrive Ford into the gravel, and straight to the back of the top 10.

That left provisional pole sitter Payne to reclaim his crown, and the fastest first sector of all set up his second sub-1:21s lap of the day to jag his second pole of the weekend.

De Pasquale's brilliant time was good enough for a front row start, whilst Wood was also a big winner, and will look to wrap up the JR Trophy from third on the grid.

The remainder of the 10 was rounded out by Brown, Feeney, Allen, Kostecki, Waters, Cameron, and Golding.

The final race of the ITM Christchurch Super 440 begins at 3:05pm local/1:05pm AEST.