Matt Payne secured his first victory of the season in Race 12 at the 2026 ITM Christchurch Super 440. The Penrite driver charged ahead of the field at his home race. While, Broc Feeney and James Golding rounded out the podium.
So far this Weekend…
Matt Payne claimed a historic pole position in Christchurch, edging out a charging Brodie Kostecki. Behind them, it was Ryan Wood who was qualified on the second row, ahead of Penrite’s Kai Allen.
While in Race 10, Kai Allen has picked up his maiden Supercars victory. In one of the closest finishes of the season, Brodie Kostecki had to settle for second, while Ryan Wood claimed third.
In Qualifying, Kostecki and Wood both secured pole positions in Race 11 and 12. Payne snagged a pair of front rows for both races, while Aaron Cameron qualified third for Race 11.
Kostecki claimed his fifth victory of the season in Race 11 of the Supercars Championship. The Championship leader held off a charging Allen. While Wood secured another podium at home. However, it was heartbreak for Payne as a loose wheel left him down in 19th.
Payne charges off the line
It was Payne who stormed into the lead of the line, while Feeney gained three positions through the first few corners. Wood was quick to slot behind Payne, setting the race up for a New Zealand 1-2. Cameron dropped down six places to fourteenth behind Chaz Mostert after getting caught up through the first two corners.
With the field settling after the first few corners, it was Mostert who dived down the inside of Cooper Murray on Lap 10. However, his position wasn’t solidified as the Walkinshaw Toyota them ran wide though the opening corners. With the midfield going bumper to bumper, it was at the front of the field where Feeney began to close in on Wood.
Anton De Pasquale and Cameron Hill pulled the trigger on pitstops, the pair pitting to change their back two wheels. Kostecki and Allen were next in the lane, with the Penrite Mustang suffering from a long pitstop. On track, Cameron sent Murray spinning as he locked up through the corner. The BRT driver picked up a fifteen second time penalty following the collision.
With most of the field pitting before Lap 17, it was Wood and Feeney who looked to undercut race leader Payne. Elsewhere on track, Declan Fraser picked up a five second penalty for a driving infringement. 20 laps into the race, Payne was into the pit for two fresh back tyres. Pulling out of the pit lane, Payne’s Mustang was over three seconds clear of Wood.
Payne on top at Home
James Golding was in prime position to move through the field as one of the only front runners to pit for four tyres. Payne continued to extend his lead. On Lap 26, Wood and Kostecki went through the dirt, filling his cockpit with dust. De Pasquale was quickly able to pass into fourth, however he then dived too late into following corner as was re-passed. Golding was the winner of this scenario, quickly passing both cars for fourth in Race 11.
With seven laps remaining, there was just over a second separating De Pasquale in sixth and Le Brocq in ninth. Behind them, Rylan Gray passed Will Brown for eleventh on track. Gray was then straight onto the back of Mostert, the rookie seeking out his first top ten finish of the season. With four laps to go, Gray passed Mostert through Turn 9, quickly pulling away from the reigning Champion.
Elsewhere on track, Golding was now on the back of Wood. The BRT Mustang two tenths behind Wood’s Mustang. With two laps remaining, Golding pulled the gun, passing Wood along the main straight. At the front of the field, Payne had built an eleven second gap, clear of all the drama behind him. After an early pitstop, Feeney managed to hold onto second, while Golding crossed the checkered flag in third. After a difficult weekend so far, Payne secured his first victory of the season in front of a sold out home crowd.
Final Supercars Race 12 classification and results from Christchurch
- Payne
- Feeney
- Golding
- Wood
- Kostecki
- De Pasquale
- Allen
- Waters
- Le Brocq
- Gray
- Ojeda
- Mostert
- Brown
- Bates
- Heimgartner
- Hill
- Randle
- Murray
- Reynolds
- Stewart
- Cameron
- Fraser
- Jones
- Walls
The Supercars Championship returns tomorrow for qualifying, a Top Ten Shootout and a 61 lap Race 13.
