What decisive statement means for Payne, GM
Matt Payne has committed to Penrite Racing for 2027
Payne had been heavily linked to a move to General Motors
Teammate Kai Allen is locked down with team through 2030
Matt Payne’s commitment to Grove Racing for the 2027 Supercars season has emerged as a two-part story.
For one, it puts to bed suggestions Payne will get an early move to General Motors in 2027. On the other, the door is open for a 2028 move.
In a statement, Payne said he will see out his contract with the Ford team, which runs through until the end of the 2027 season. It was a decisive statement, well beyond his comments earlier this year.
What Thursday’s news does is end the tug-of-war over his services, given GM was keen to secure Payne for 2027.
Crucially, though, Payne stopped short at commenting on what comes after 2027, leaving the door open to a move to GM in 2028.
It’s understood a deal would place Payne at Chevrolet homologation squad Team 18, while also opening doors for the Kiwi overseas.
For Payne, it puts aside any immediate future distractions, given how he has dominated headlines in recent weeks amid the NASCAR revelation and his wrist injury.
It also affirms to Grove Racing that it will indeed keep its man to his contract, something team CEO Brenton Grove made very clear in New Zealand. Payne and Kai Allen, who is locked down until 2030, maintain stats quo for the team.
But what could it mean for GM?
Drivers contracted beyond 2026 are Red Bull Ampol Racing’s Will Brown and Broc Feeney (2029), Walkinshaw TWG Racing's Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood, Tickford Racing’s Cam Waters and Thomas Randle (2027), Dick Johnson Racing's Brodie Kostecki (2030), Erebus Motorsport's Jobe Stewart (2028), Blanchard Racing Team's James Golding (2027), Brad Jones Racing's Cameron Hill (2027), PremiAir Racing’s Jayden Ojeda (2027), and SCT Motorsport's Jackson Walls (2027).
Andre Heimgartner is also widely expected to remain with BJR next season.
Anton De Pasquale has been repeatedly labelled GM’s de facto leader, but he and David Reynolds are out of contract at the end of 2026. With Payne locked in for 2027, Reynolds — who scored a podium in Tasmania — may earn a reprieve, and improved results from this point will help his case.
Should Payne indeed lob at Team 18 through GM in 2028, it's highly likely Reynolds will be the one to make way. For 2027, Team 18 will likely remain unchanged, or make a bold call to install another driver as a stop-gap before 2028.
The only Chevrolet drivers locked in beyond 2026 are rookie duo Ojeda and Stewart. However, PremiAir boss Roland Dane suggested in Darwin that, while Ojeda is locked down for 2027, other teams may be looking at him.
For all the rumblings over “A-grade” drivers, GM faces another season of questions, although the current trajectory of Team 18’s results suggests more talking may soon be done on track.
