Supercars News: Payne and Kostecki win Saturday races at Christchurch

Grove Racing’s Matt Payne and Dick Johnson Racing’s Brodie Kostecki split the honours in Saturday’s double-header at the ITM Christchurch Super440, each delivering a gritty victory at Ruapuna as the Repco Supercars Championship headed into the second day of the New Zealand round.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Race 2: Kostecki holds off Allen in tense battle

Brodie Kostecki leveled the weekend ledger with a hard-fought win in the 37-lap Race 2, fending off a determined late charge from Grove Racing’s Kai Allen despite a slow pit stop and tire disadvantage.

Kostecki crossed the line just 0.598 seconds ahead of Allen, with Walkinshaw TWG Racing’s Ryan Wood claiming third. The podium was gifted when Matt Payne lost his right-rear wheel shortly after his own stop, the wheel parting company between Turns 9 and 10.

Triple Eight’s Will Brown and Broc Feeney completed the top five, while Anton De Pasquale held off Cameron Waters for sixth.

“Got a ripper start again,” said Kostecki. “We changed a lot on the car. Stoked to get the win. We had a little pit stop fumble but was able to just use the clean air to my advantage there towards the end and Kai did everything he could.”

The race featured multiple incidents, including a three-wide clash at the Turn 4 hairpin that earned David Reynolds a 15-second stop-and-go penalty and left Cameron Hill with broken steering. Both Hill and Andre Heimgartner later retired with steering damage.

ITM Christchurch Super440, Race 2 – 37 Laps

Race 3: Payne storms to redemption win

Matt Payne turned his weekend around in style, dominating Race 3 from the front row to claim his first Supercars victory since the 2025 Adelaide Grand Final.

The Grove Racing driver cleared Ryan Wood at the start and built a commanding lead, eventually winning by 11.643 seconds over Triple Eight’s Broc Feeney. James Golding charged through to third — his equal-best result with Blanchard Racing Team — after passing Wood in the closing stages.

Payne’s triumph ended a frustrating run that included a pole-position defeat on Friday and the wheel drama in Race 2.

“We had a wheel go missing down the middle of the track a few hours ago. What a turnaround,” said Payne. “Man, our car has been so fast all day… The guys and girls have done such a good job with it.”

Wood slipped to fourth after late tire wear, while Brodie Kostecki recovered from an off-track moment to finish fifth. Anton De Pasquale, Kai Allen, Cameron Waters, Jack Le Brocq and Rylan Gray rounded out the top ten.

ITM Christchurch Super440, Race 3 – 37 Laps