Payne's telling response to championship question
Matt Payne backs Penrite Racing for teams' championship
Payne third, Kai Allen fifth in drivers' championship after Round 4
Triple Eight has won 12 of last 16 teams' championships
Bathurst champion Matt Payne is adamant Penrite Racing can make a run for the teams’ championship following a breakout weekend in Christchurch.
Penrite Racing will arrive in Tasmania on May 22-24 with two drivers in the top five, with Payne just 46 points off the lead in third, and second-year driver Kai Allen fifth.
Three wins in four races at Ruapuna signalled the biggest statement yet that Penrite Racing is a genuine Supercars powerhouse. If not for dual points penalties in New Zealand, the Grove-owned squad would be atop the teams’ championship.
Intriguingly, Penrite Racing put together its best multi-race weekend in Supercars yet despite two senior figures in David Cauchi and Grant McPherson stepping away.
The team later announced technical boss McPherson is bound for General Motors after serving a six-month notice, just weeks after Team Principal Cauchi wrapped up with the Melbourne squad.
All teams' championships bar 2023 for Erebus Motorsport were taken out by Triple Eight and DJR Team Penske between 2010 and 2025.
When asked in Christchurch if he believes Penrite Racing can make a run for the 2026 teams’ championship, Payne said: “100%.
“For Kai and I, I think it's mostly just about trying to perform consistently and also rolling out with a good, strong cars helps.
"I think we're really faring really well at the moment. It's really cool to see everyone working together so well. We just need to keep chipping away at it.
"I'm sure everyone's gonna be working that a little bit harder now because they've had a taste of it, of the really cool weekends having a lot of trophies come in.”
Team owner Stephen Grove labelled Christchurch as a “great” weekend, highlighting "how every single person in the team contributed to the success." Red Bull Ampol Racing rival Broc Feeney also quipped that Penrite Racing "made us look pretty silly."
Supercars.com has predicted Payne to lead the field into the 2026 Finals, with Allen also riding a wave of confidence following his maiden Supercars victory.
Despite being a surprise Grand Finalist in 2025, Allen has been one of the standouts so far in 2026, but suggested Christchurch was a perfect storm for driver, team and car.
"I think obviously it goes to show when the team has confidence in us and we have confidence in the car, it makes our jobs a lot easier,” said Allen, who topped the point score across the four Christchurch races.
"But at the same time, learning off Matty, he was doing a great job this weekend. I really learned a lot from him.
“The car just suited our driving style and this track. I'm super grateful for the car I had this weekend. It was definitely really fast.
“It wasn't easy to drive, but at the same time, it generated lap speed. We just had to work out how to nurse it around this tight track.”
Track action at Symmons Plains commences on Friday May 22. Tickets are on sale now.
