Penrite Racing boss Stephen Grove shifts focus after heartbreak
Matt Payne lost Sprint Cup after costly DNF in Ipswich finale
Payne to defend Enduro Cup, Bathurst victories from 2025
Penrite Racing Executive Director Stephen Grove wants his team to come out swinging at the Ryco Enduro Cup after a last gasp Repco Sprint Cup defeat for Matt Payne.
Payne went into the final day of the 2026 Sprint Cup with one hand on the trophy, but could only watch Broc Feeney steal it from his grasp after a costly DNF.
The New Zealander was forced out of Sunday’s Ipswich finale with a mechanical issue, marking Payne’s first DNF since Melbourne in March.
It was a bitter footnote on what has been a magnificent campaign by driver and team, with Payne carrying a 110-point lead into Sunday before the drama.
While the rare reliability drama caught the team short, Grove quickly turned attention to what’s next: defending the Ryco Enduro Cup and Bathurst wins, and the Finals.
“Firstly, congratulations to Broc Feeney and Triple Eight on claiming the Sprint Cup,” Grove said in a team statement.
“Ultimately, it wasn’t our day. While we did a lot right this weekend, unfortunately a technical issue outside our control cost us the chance to claim the bonus points on offer for winning the Sprint Cup and of course we’re gutted for Matt and the entire crew.
“I’m so immensely proud of the entire Penrite Racing crew for what we have already achieved this season. Matt has now officially qualified for the Finals, and Kai is certainly well and truly in the mix.
“Today certainly won’t define our season and we are more determined than ever to come out and deliver a memorable Enduro Cup and Finals Series for the #19 and #26 Penrite Mustangs.
“A massive thanks to all our fans, partners and entire Penrite Racing family for your support so far. Bring on the rest of 2026.”
The Ford team is set to have both drivers fighting for a Grand Final berth, with Kai Allen on course to put his 2026 Finals qualification hopes beyond doubt at The Bend.
Still, the damage was done on the scoreboard — Payne losing the drivers’ lead, and Penrite’s teams’ lead slashed to 67 points — but Grove insists there’s much more to play for.
“All our focus now is on the Enduro Cup, starting at The Bend,” Grove added in a Ford release.
"We won that last year and we’ve been working very hard as a team to prepare for the two-driver races. We know we've got fast cars and drivers.
“We were focused on the Sprint Cup and we fell just short on that, but now it’s all about the endurance races and Bathurst. We want to win that again and only then will we starting thinking about Adelaide and the teams and drivers’ championships.”
Payne and Allen will be joined by Will Davison and Tim Slade respectively for the 2026 enduro season, which kicks off at The Bend on September 11-13.
