Courtney weighs in on 'muscle flex' GM/Payne move
Matt Payne contracted with Ford team Penrite Racing until 2027
It emerged this week that Payne had Chevrolet NASCAR cameo denied
GM is known to have made overtures to Bathurst champion
A planned NASCAR cameo for Matt Payne with Chevrolet has caught the eye of James Courtney, who labelled the play a “muscle flex" by General Motors.
The Bathurst champion is under contract with Ford-backed Penrite Racing until the end of 2027, and has been at the centre of intense speculation over his future.
RCR previously handed NASCAR debuts to Brodie Kostecki and Will Brown, but both were GM drivers in Supercars at the time. Payne, meanwhile, races a Penrite Mustang.
Penrite Racing shut down the cross-manufacturer opportunity, in what is the latest chapter in the saga over Payne’s future amid known GM overtures, of which Payne remained tight-lipped over earlier this year.
Key to the speculation are reported international opportunities facilitated for Payne by GM, should they wrestle him away from Penrite Racing and Ford.
“I think this is GM showing, this is what we can do for you,” 2010 Supercars champion Courtney said on MotorRacing 360.
“We’re serious, we can do these NASCAR opportunities, WEC [World Endurance Championship], and do all this stuff, we want you for a bigger global project.
“It’s more of a muscle flex sort of thing, for sure it would’ve upset the other guys.”
Courtney, who will race alongside David Reynolds with Team 18 in the enduros, insisted significant work is being done in the background to move GM forward, citing recent parity adjustments and the signing of technical guru Grant McPherson.
“They want to be winning, they want to be performing better," Courtney said.
“As an organisation, they’re putting things in place to better themselves… they are working hard behind the scenes.
“I think if they were happy with the results, they’re in the wrong sport.
“GM, as a powerhouse, they want to win. They’ve had their pants pulled down by Ford, so they’re trying to bolster it with the people they’re hiring.
“The team’s as bad as what it’s ever going to be at this moment, and they’re building."
Payne heads to Darwin second overall behind Ford rival Broc Feeney.
