Payne victorious, Feeney wins JR Trophy in extraordinary NZ finale

Matt Payne was once again in a league of his own in Christchurch, in what turned out to be a wild finale to the ITM Christchurch Super 440.

Payne led home Penrite Racing teammate Kai Allen, securing the team's first ever 1-2 finish, with Broc Feeney rounding out the podium, and winning the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy in extraordinary circumstances.

A late-race engine failure for Ryan Wood cost the Kiwi the JR Trophy, before a crazy three-lap dash to the finish saw Brodie Kostecki and Chaz Mostert come to blows in a wild incident.

There was plenty of drama at the start of the race, however Cam Waters didn't even make it that far as he suffered a starter motor failure at the start of the formation lap, forcing the Monster Mustang into a pit lane start.

That would prove a blessing in disguise, as the Safety Car would be called for the first time this weekend after a multi-car pile up at Turn 8.

A midfield concertina in the infield section caught out rookies Jackson Walls and Rylan Gray, whilst the luckless Aaron Cameron would once again find himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, all three cars picking up huge damage.

Thomas Randle would also lose a lap after he picked up big damage in the opening lap incident, which worked against Matt Payne, who had nailed the start for the second straight race.

It also helped out Ryan Wood, whose quest to wrap up the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy got off to a shaky start with a poor getaway off the line from third.

The Safety Car came in at the end of Lap 3, and Wood then rattled up the inside of Anton De Pasquale at Turn 2 off the restart, before Will Brown and Kai Allen had an even wilder moment on the run to the final corner.

Allen got the run on the #888 Ford on the exit of Turn 10, however Brown moved him all the way to the inside grass and some, picking up a bad sportsmanship flag for his troubles.

Payne was once again the class of a field by a distance with an ultra consistent car, as the field behind began to play strategy games.

De Pasquale was the first to blink, and undercut Brodie Kostecki and Wood, whilst Allen was able to get by Brown with an undercut.

Fresh tyres saw Kostecki and Wood make their way back by De Pasquale with little fuss, whilst Payne's lead was so comfortable that even after an extended first stint, he still had a four and a half second lead over his teammate Allen.

Broc Feeney had strong pace in the middle stint, and worked his way to third, a move teammate Brown made very easy, whilst Chaz Mostert also extended his first stint, and carved his way through the field in the second stint.

Rejoining the track in seventh behind his teammate, green rear tyres brought the #1 Toyota to life with a 15-lap tyre offset to the cars ahead, and he had charged his way forward to fourth in just a handful of laps.

Of the lead group, Brown and Kostecki were the first to make their final stops at the end of Lap 38, and there was a swap of position as Dick Johnson Racing outgunned Triple Eight in pit lane.

Mostert pitted on Lap 41, which was immediately covered by Allen and Feeney ahead the next time around, however Allen found himself caught up in an awkward exchange with Cam Hill on pit exit.

However, the Canberran would dive in for his second stop at the end of that lap, releasing Allen to set the fastest lap of the race next time by.

Payne made his final stop at the end of Lap 46, and was still miles in front, and was left to cruise to victory, however there would be a final cruel twist in the tale.

Running in position to clinch the JR Trophy, Wood's engine died with seven laps to go, the #2 Toyota spluttering to a halt on the pit straight with a dead engine, he Kiwi left to sit in the infield and wonder what could've been

That brought the Safety Car out for a second time, and set up a fascinating conclusion, with Feeney and Kostecki tied on points in the joint lead of the JR Trophy.

The Safety Car came back in and set up a three lap dash to the end, with Penrite Racing instructing Allen to not pass Payne and protect the 1-2 finish for the team.

Allen did just that, however as the Penrite Fords romped away, all hell broke loose behind as Kostecki fired down the inside of Mostert at Turn 2, a move that would've wrestled the JR Trophy away from Feeney.

However, Mostert returned serve on the run to Turn 3, and Kostecki was sent into a wild ride back across the path of the field at the exit of Turn 3.

Amid a huge dust cloud, Brown dove off the road in avoidance, and Kostecki was somehow not cleaned up despite stalling the car. Mostert was slapped with a 30 second penalty for his role.

That paved the way for Feeney to not only finish third, but also the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy and the championship lead in a wild swing.

James Golding was promoted to fourth following Mostert's penalty, with Waters going from the pit lane to fifth, then Brown, Jack Le Brocq, Andre Heimgartner, Cooper Murray, and Declan Fraser rounding out the top 10.