Matt Payne secured his fourth victory of the season in Race 23 of the 2026 Supercars Championship in Perth
In what has become one of the most dominant runs of the season, Payne extended his Championship lead after a commanding victory. The Penrite Racing Mustang helped secure Ford’s Manufacturer Championship ahead of Ryan Wood in second. While a late charge from Anton De Pasquale surged him into third.
Payne Dominant in Qualifying
Matt Payne has continued his commanding run of form by securing pole position for Race 23 at the Perth Super 440, overcoming a chaotic qualifying session interrupted by two red flags. The championship leader mastered tricky conditions as the track dried following overnight rain, setting the pace ahead of Cam Waters, while his teammate, Thomas Randle completed the top three.
The session was marred by multiple impeding incidents, with four drivers, including title contender Brodie Kostecki, receiving grid penalties. Payne’s pole marked his fourth consecutive qualifying triumph and fifth of the 2026 season, strengthening his momentum heading into Saturday’s opening race.
Lights Out in Perth
It was lights out in Perth for Race 23 of the 2026 Supercars season and Cam Waters who stormed into the lead. After qualifying second, the Monster Energy driver charged ahead of Matt Payne off the line. After bringing out a Red Flag in Race 24 Qualifying, it was Ryan Wood who jumped into third ahead of Thomas Randle.
Further back, Rylan Gray cruised past his teammate Brodie Kostecki for seventh as the opening laps ticket by. By the fifth lap, the lead five drivers had extended a three second gap to the rest of the field as Payne charged to the lead. Diving round the inside of the final corner, the Polesitter held off a flying Wood for the lead. Kostecki repassed his teammate, while Payne was given a warning for his defence against Wood.
While Kostecki was fastest on track, it was Kai Allen who passed Randle for fourth. The Penrite driver was now hunting down the second Tickford Mustang, passing Waters on Lap 19 of 50. After a disappointing qualifying, Broc Feeney continued to struggle on track, conceding places to Will brown and David Reynolds.
Pit Stop Shakeups
With the gamble of a pitstops clear for the teams, it was Brodie Kostecki who was one of the first drivers to pit. The decision proved costly, as the former Champion was able to undercut and pass Allen for a net third. On Lap 25, it was Chaz Mostert, who only pitted two tyres to come out ahead of the battling pair.
A slow pit stop on Lap 29 cost Waters valuable track position, with the early race leader dropping down to the net tenth. At the front of the pack, Payne held onto his race lead, almost three seconds clear of the two Walkinshaw Supras. However, the woes were coming for his teammate as Allen struggled to pass Kostecki, picking up two black and white flags in the process. A three way battle from Kostecki, Allen and Randle brought a charging Anton De Pasquale into the mix. The Team18 Supra charged past Randle for sixth with 13 laps to go.
Safety Car for Kostecki
After a tense battle with Allen and De Pasquale for fourth, Kostecki was send spinning into the first corner sand pits. While Allen was defending on De Pasquale, a nudge into the rear of the Dick Johnson Racing Mustang left Kostecki out of Race 23.
Bringing out the first Safety Car of the race with eleven laps to go, a few cars chose to take second pitstops. While at the front of the field, Payne’s four second gap was significantly reduced as the field was bunched together.
With seven laps remaining, it was Payne who led the field away as the Green Flags flew. Wth De Pasquale, on the charge with fresher tyres, the pressure was on for mostert in third. Allen, who escaped a penalty for the Kostecki incident, held his own in fifth as Waters, Andre Heimgartner and Feeney overtook Randle.
While the battling behind was bunching up the field, Payne was able to open a two and a half second gap after two laps. With three laps to go, the field was three wide through the final corner. After an overtake from De Pasquale, it was Mostert, Waters and Randle who didn’t give an inch heading onto the main straight. Waters was able to come away ahead, while Mostert held of Allen for fifth.
Sprint for the Flag
A charging Feeney was able to secure multiple track positions as he continued his charge towards Allen. However the checkered flag was flying too soon with the Triple Eight Mustang forced to drop behind Allen.
After fifty laps of tense racing, it was Payne who claimed his fourth win of the season. The victory marked a significant milestone for Ford as they wrapped up the 2026 Supercars Manufactures Championship with much of the season still to race. Behind Payne, it was Wood’s Supra who claimed second, while De Pasquale slotted his Camaro into third.
With both the Sprint Cup and the race for a finals position still on, it was Waters who claimed fourth ahead of Mostert. Allen was forced to settle for sixth ahead of Feeney’s recovery drive to sixth. Heimgartner secured eighth ahead of Randle, while Gray had one of his best races of his rookie season finishing in tenth.
The field will look to this afternoon where they’ll take on another 50 laps in Race 24 at 4:20pm local time. Looking ahead to Sunday, Qualifying will occur at 11:00am ahead of the Top Ten Shootout at 11:45am, before Race 25 will start at 3:20pm.
Final Supercars Race 23 classification and results from Darwin
- Payne
- Wood
- De Pasquale
- Waters
- Mostert
- Allen
- Feeney
- Heimgartner
- Randle
- Gray
- Le Brocq
- Brown
- Murray
- Hill
- Golding
- Cameron
- Walls
- Stewart
- Reynolds
- Ojeda
- Fraser
- Bates
- Jones
- Kostecki
