Payne perfect, Kostecki beached in wild Perth opener

Matt Payne has extended his Repco Supercars Championship lead with an emphatic victory in the opening race of the Bosch Power Tools Perth Super 440.

The Kiwi had to work for it early after a poor start, however a power move on Cam Waters, and cheeky defence on Ryan Wood sealed the deal, as did a superb late-race safety car restart.

That was necessitated by a controversial clash between Kai Allen and Brodie Kostecki, which left the hometown hero beached at Turn 1, whilst Allen went unpunished by officials.

Payne's fourth win of the season also secured Ford the 2026 manufacturers' championship, having pulled 15 wins clear of Toyota with 14 races remaining for the season.

Off the start Waters got a brilliant launch to cover off Payne and claim first before the first corner, whilst Wood rounded up Thomas Randle for third, and got a big wiggle through Turn 2.

Payne set the fastest lap of the race on the second lap as he looked to atone for his poor start, with Wood and Randle both closing up, as was Kai Allen.

Payne dived down the inside of Turn 7 on lap 5, with Wood also moving by Waters and getting a mega run on Payne down the front straight. The Penrite Ford eased the Mobil 1 Truck Assist Toyota onto the grass down the pit straight.

Payne was handed a warning by race officials for his move, but it allowed the points leader to maintain clear air, which he put to good use by gradually extending his lead.

The five-car breakaway was formed as Andre Heimgartner held back the chasing pack, led by a feisty Rylan Gray, who forced his way past at the first corner on lap 4 after being driven towards the grass by the Kiwi.

Allen was soon by Randle and up into fourth, the #55 Castrol Mustang skating wide at Turn 1 following its sister #6 entry of Waters, who also slid wide but held position.

By lap 13, Payne's lead was extended to a second over Wood, whilst Allen has heaping pressure on Waters for third, with a move made at Turn 7.

Payne's dominance was especially good news given Broc Feeney hadn't made inroads from his starting position of 13th, save for passing teammate Will Brown for 12th.

That was until the #88 Ford slid wide at Turn 5, with Brown and David Reynolds moving by and Feeney falling back to 14th.

Brodie Kostecki elected for a three-tyre stop on lap 19, the first of the top 10 to pit on lap 19, three laps after Jack Le Brocq was the first to tick off his compulsory stop.

Allen was the first of the leaders to pit on lap 22, with Randle following from fifth, both changing four tyres. Kostecki was the big beneficiary with the undercut, and forced his way by Allen at Turn 1.

However, they were all jumped by Chaz Mostert, a two tyre stop from Walkinshaw TWG Racing vaulting him into the conversation for a podium.

Wood pitted from second on lap 28, and changed four tyres, exiting comfortably clear of Mostert, with Payne responding the following lap, having carved out a six second lead over the #2 Toyota.

Waters came in with Payne, but a slow four-tyre stop dropped him way back in the field to the back end of the effective top 10.

Allen attacked Kostecki on lap 30 as he saw a potential podium slipping away, though that only invited Randle to attack, with Allen picking up a bad sportsmanship flag after driving Randle into the grass down the front straight.

Allen ranged back up onto the back of Kostecki, with the battle for fourth the centre of attention as Payne, Wood, and Mostert all had safe buffers in the podium places.

Anton De Pasquale then ranged into the battle for fourth, with he and Randle engaging for several laps, before he made short work of the gap to Kostecki and Allen.

But, on lap 39, tensions boiled over as Allen attempted a move at Turn 1, and spun Kostecki into the sand at Turn 1. The Shannons Safety Car was called upon, and Payne's 4.5s lead evaporated. Stewards deemed no penalty was forthcoming from the incident.

A seven lap dash to the finish started with a fantastic restart for Payne, who built a 0.5s margin in the first green lap, whilst De Pasquale heaped pressure on Mostert with fresher tyres.

Wood also couldn't get away from his teammate, with the two Walkinshaw TWG Toyotas, De Pasquale, and Allen all battling for a podium.

De Pasquale would get by Mostert, who found himself on the outside of a wild three-wide moment down the hill into Turn 7 with Mostert and Waters, who gained two spots in the exchange.

Meanwhile, Payne was in cruise control out front, coming home with a 3.1s margin over Wood, whilst De Pasquale brought home another podium for Team 18 in third.

Waters fought back to fourth after his pit stop stumble, with Mostert, Allen, Feeney, Heimgartner, Randle, and Gray rounding out the top 10. Feeney carved through the field after the restart to minimise the points loss to Payne.

Payne and Feeney will share the front row for Race 24, which is due to commence at 4:20pm local time/6:20pm AEST on Saturday afternoon.