April 17, 2025 • 10 mins
Supercars driver Matt Payne has had the best weekend of his career.
He won two of the three races at the Taupo Super 440.
And, as he told D'Arcy Waldegrave on Sportstalk, he almost won the third one too!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk Z'B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Were joined now by Matt Payne out of Grove Racing
and the pen Right Race Car. Good evening, Matt, how
are we very very well? Not as good as you?
Speaker 3 (00:22):
What are we?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Kened? And Tope and I get the feeling that it
kind of went under the radar a wee bit because
there was so much sport on last weekend. But that
was an outstanding week in for you. I mean, you
could have done better. You could have won the second
race too, That's pretty good.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
I was actually pretty guarded thinking back on it, because
like we had really good speed on the super soft
that was and that was the tie for the second race,
and I just butchered the last quality lap which ended
up making us start a little bit further down. And
then yeah, like we honestly we probably would have had
(01:00):
a chance to win all three races, but it was
a bit cutting.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
But I'll still take two wins anyway. It's definitely a positive.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
I suppose with Tope on the nature of the track
surface as well, not necessarily vital that you qualify and Pole,
I mean it helps, but you can actually chop through
with the nature of the track as it tires.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Yeah, it is a little bit like that, Like there's
definitely a big passing advantage when you have better ties
than obviously the cars in front, but it is it
is a pretty tough track to pass conventionally, Like there's
not many corners where it's sort of standard passing. I actually, no,
(01:42):
it probably is, but like just with the especially with
the super soft race, like the tires literally felt like
they lasted for probably four or five laps and then
you were in the hurt box a lot, and it
was just it was cool racing.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
I think it was really good.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
It really made you try really hard to keep the
tire on it, and it was just something that you know,
like we experienced all the time, but not quite to
that level.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Team thing to just stick your nose on the inside,
break late and just dive in there and see what happens.
And from a fan perspective, Matt, we love that.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Yeah, it's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Like I think the racing is really good on the
weekend as well, Like we've seen that the racing's definitely
gotten better for this year.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
And I think the rules not so much. The rules
but just the.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Penalties and things like that have probably been subsided a
little bit just because you know, people have realized how
cool the racing can be and how epic it can
be with a little bit more bumping and rubbing and
things like that, and I think everyone's really enjoying that
part of it. You know, it produces a good show,
It produces good entertainment, like we saw, and I think
(02:55):
that's definitely going to carry on into later in the
year and you'll probably see even even more core races.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
You know, well, I'm fan. First broadcast is sick And
I say I went on obviously because a bit last
year because it didn't have that same flavor about it.
But yeah, this year it's starting to come. What about parity.
There's the age old argument about parity. Is that still relevant?
Cause I know some drivers go, well, it's got to
be sorted out. Other drivers go, it's fine, just race.
(03:22):
Where do you sit on this one?
Speaker 3 (03:24):
I mean, it's definitely a difficult question. I've always been
more on the kind of like let's just let's let
the drivers race and.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
You know, the proper technical people to sort it out.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
But yeah, I mean it is the question for gen three.
You know, everyone's been talking about it from day dot,
but it's it's certainly I would be lying if I
said it's it wasn't still a thing. I think, you know,
from where I sit and where I sort of stand
in the racing, and there probably is a little bit
(03:58):
of a sort of difference between the motors and that.
But like to be honest, we have been racing these
cars for this is our third year now and it
still doesn't stop, you know, the Ford Mustangs from winning.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
You know, we were.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
There was only one Shiv that got on the podium
all three races, and it was cam Hill on the
Sunday race, finishing seconds.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
So it's certainly interesting.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
I'm not sure if that's just down to the quality
of the teams on the Blue Oval side. I think
I think there are a lot of good drivers in
the four teams. Whether or not that makes the difference,
I'm not sure, but it's a tough question. And I
think like supercars, is constantly evolving and trying to work
(04:45):
it out and make it closer. So I think everyone's
doing a pretty good job.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
You've got up to third in the championship. I didn't
say it came out of nowhere, but you elevated very
very fast, and with the condition if you can't and
your team and what you've been given, you've got what
Tasmania you're coming up soon. How strong is your faith
that you can stay up the top and keep fighting
championship wise for the rest of the season, because it's
(05:10):
still pretty early days.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Mat Yeah, look, it's only the third round and we're
sort of honing through this Sprint series. I think it's
a really it's been a really big positive for us
to have to have a really good round in New Zealand,
where we probably felt like last year we didn't. We
weren't quite on top of the car so and I
think that's just a combination of themes with the new
(05:33):
tire and the setup evolution we had over last year
and also this year. So it definitely shows that that
we've improved year on the year. But it's tough because
the next three rounds we're going into particularly basically the
three tracks we really struggled at last year, and those
(05:55):
were really the only three tracks we sort of struggled at.
But it's sort of it's hard because you know, we've
elevated ourselves into a position of contention now and I
think for us we just need to work even harder
going into these next few rounds that we can stay
on top of it. But like I said that, the
evolution and the improvement on our car year on here,
(06:18):
I think it's going to make these next few tracks
a little bit different for us, and I think we've
got a bit better of a picture of what we
need to target going into these tracks from a setup
point of view as well.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
So you're in Tasmania in a couple of weeks time
after that you head over to the tired Destroyer of
Perth and then you at Darwin. So there are three
races you didn't work too well last time.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
No, No, we struggled. We really struggled at Tasmania. It's
a tough track like it's it's basically three corners and
it's and that the qualifying times are ridiculously close because
the track is quite small, so it's definitely quirky. It's
it's really a place where i'd really like to go. Well,
(07:03):
I really love Tasmania as a as a state.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
It reminds me a lot of New Zealand for how
it looks like.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
But yeah, I just it's hard to like a place
where you just haven't done well in the past. So
hopefully this year we can turn it around and make
it one of our strong grounds.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
But I don't see any reason why we couldn't.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
I think we just need to work pretty hard at
identifying what we need to target.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Matt Payne, Grove Racing, pen right race car. It's a forward,
it's Mustang, it's in supercars, joins us. Now are you
speak of Simmons planes. That's like a fifty something second lap,
it's super super fast and it's got the best hairpin
in world motor sport. That from again a viewer's point
of view, maybe not for a mechanics or a guy
(07:54):
who's got to look after the dents in the car.
It's so great because that turn is wild. How's that
best approached? You have to take it, like I suppose,
lap by lap, depending on where the traffic's at.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Yeah, it's pretty tough.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Like when you're in the start of the race and
you're backed up a little bit, there's always a big,
big congestion going in there. It certainly it's it's definitely
what kind of creates your lap time as well. How
how best you can turn around it, how good your
driver is out of it, and how good your braking is.
So it's tough like and because that's really the defining
(08:29):
corner on the track, you really have to work hard
at it.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
So it's it's definitely character building. I'd say, work harder.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
That's all we can say, Well, hey, what do you
have to lift from the topo weekenduse you've got to
you got to pack that down. Ain't you walk away
from it because it's done now? But are there any
keys out of that weekend that you can carry on
with you?
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I think for sure for us it would just have
to be rolling out of the rolling out of the
container fast. Like we really had a problem being outside
the top three in every practice, which was a really
positive thing for us. I think we've identified a few
things on our car that have generally helped us helped
(09:13):
us with that, but as well as it is just
some of the racing, I think I think we all
we did a really good job with racecraft and navigating
through all the traffic, and especially in that race too,
and even the last race, you know, passing for the leads.
So I think that's definitely one of the coolest races
I've done, but in the whole picture of that, you know,
(09:34):
I feel like it's probably one of the most complete
weekends we've put together as a race team.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
And you know, it feels good obviously when that happens.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
One last thing for we met Payne. Thanks so much
for taking the time to talk that race through Jason
Richard's memorial. You pick that up, which is great. We
don't want me as he's running away with it. That's
just got to add a wee bit extra. There's a
lot of emotion. This is a this is a sort
after trophy. This is a very respected trophy in New
Zealand noticeable.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Yeah, it was certainly something that I went into the
week in obviously conscious of it, but to come out
of Saturday leading the points for it and then going
to sleep and thinking, wow, we actually might really have
a shot at this, and then you know, sort of
starting up the front near near there on Sunday and
(10:23):
then actually as soon as I got to the front
and to the lead, I thought, wow, this is a
this is a real possibility that we might get our
hands on it. And look, even if I want it
and I didn't win the Sunday race, I still would
have been happy, but I think winning the race on
Sunday and getting that was definitely the perfect way to
send it off. Really.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk Z'B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Were joined now by Matt Payne out of Grove Racing
and the pen Right Race Car. Good evening, Matt, how
are we very very well? Not as good as you?
Speaker 3 (00:22):
What are we?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Kened? And Tope and I get the feeling that it
kind of went under the radar a wee bit because
there was so much sport on last weekend. But that
was an outstanding week in for you. I mean, you
could have done better. You could have won the second
race too, That's pretty good.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
I was actually pretty guarded thinking back on it, because
like we had really good speed on the super soft
that was and that was the tie for the second race,
and I just butchered the last quality lap which ended
up making us start a little bit further down. And
then yeah, like we honestly we probably would have had
(01:00):
a chance to win all three races, but it was
a bit cutting.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
But I'll still take two wins anyway. It's definitely a positive.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
I suppose with Tope on the nature of the track
surface as well, not necessarily vital that you qualify and Pole,
I mean it helps, but you can actually chop through
with the nature of the track as it tires.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Yeah, it is a little bit like that, Like there's
definitely a big passing advantage when you have better ties
than obviously the cars in front, but it is it
is a pretty tough track to pass conventionally, Like there's
not many corners where it's sort of standard passing. I actually, no,
(01:42):
it probably is, but like just with the especially with
the super soft race, like the tires literally felt like
they lasted for probably four or five laps and then
you were in the hurt box a lot, and it
was just it was cool racing.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
I think it was really good.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
It really made you try really hard to keep the
tire on it, and it was just something that you know,
like we experienced all the time, but not quite to
that level.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Team thing to just stick your nose on the inside,
break late and just dive in there and see what happens.
And from a fan perspective, Matt, we love that.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Yeah, it's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Like I think the racing is really good on the
weekend as well, Like we've seen that the racing's definitely
gotten better for this year.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
And I think the rules not so much. The rules
but just the.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Penalties and things like that have probably been subsided a
little bit just because you know, people have realized how
cool the racing can be and how epic it can
be with a little bit more bumping and rubbing and
things like that, and I think everyone's really enjoying that
part of it. You know, it produces a good show,
It produces good entertainment, like we saw, and I think
(02:55):
that's definitely going to carry on into later in the
year and you'll probably see even even more core races.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
You know, well, I'm fan. First broadcast is sick And
I say I went on obviously because a bit last
year because it didn't have that same flavor about it.
But yeah, this year it's starting to come. What about parity.
There's the age old argument about parity. Is that still relevant?
Cause I know some drivers go, well, it's got to
be sorted out. Other drivers go, it's fine, just race.
(03:22):
Where do you sit on this one?
Speaker 3 (03:24):
I mean, it's definitely a difficult question. I've always been
more on the kind of like let's just let's let
the drivers race and.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
You know, the proper technical people to sort it out.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
But yeah, I mean it is the question for gen three.
You know, everyone's been talking about it from day dot,
but it's it's certainly I would be lying if I
said it's it wasn't still a thing. I think, you know,
from where I sit and where I sort of stand
in the racing, and there probably is a little bit
(03:58):
of a sort of difference between the motors and that.
But like to be honest, we have been racing these
cars for this is our third year now and it
still doesn't stop, you know, the Ford Mustangs from winning.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
You know, we were.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
There was only one Shiv that got on the podium
all three races, and it was cam Hill on the
Sunday race, finishing seconds.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
So it's certainly interesting.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
I'm not sure if that's just down to the quality
of the teams on the Blue Oval side. I think
I think there are a lot of good drivers in
the four teams. Whether or not that makes the difference,
I'm not sure, but it's a tough question. And I
think like supercars, is constantly evolving and trying to work
(04:45):
it out and make it closer. So I think everyone's
doing a pretty good job.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
You've got up to third in the championship. I didn't
say it came out of nowhere, but you elevated very
very fast, and with the condition if you can't and
your team and what you've been given, you've got what
Tasmania you're coming up soon. How strong is your faith
that you can stay up the top and keep fighting
championship wise for the rest of the season, because it's
(05:10):
still pretty early days.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Mat Yeah, look, it's only the third round and we're
sort of honing through this Sprint series. I think it's
a really it's been a really big positive for us
to have to have a really good round in New Zealand,
where we probably felt like last year we didn't. We
weren't quite on top of the car so and I
think that's just a combination of themes with the new
(05:33):
tire and the setup evolution we had over last year
and also this year. So it definitely shows that that
we've improved year on the year. But it's tough because
the next three rounds we're going into particularly basically the
three tracks we really struggled at last year, and those
(05:55):
were really the only three tracks we sort of struggled at.
But it's sort of it's hard because you know, we've
elevated ourselves into a position of contention now and I
think for us we just need to work even harder
going into these next few rounds that we can stay
on top of it. But like I said that, the
evolution and the improvement on our car year on here,
(06:18):
I think it's going to make these next few tracks
a little bit different for us, and I think we've
got a bit better of a picture of what we
need to target going into these tracks from a setup
point of view as well.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
So you're in Tasmania in a couple of weeks time
after that you head over to the tired Destroyer of
Perth and then you at Darwin. So there are three
races you didn't work too well last time.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
No, No, we struggled. We really struggled at Tasmania. It's
a tough track like it's it's basically three corners and
it's and that the qualifying times are ridiculously close because
the track is quite small, so it's definitely quirky. It's
it's really a place where i'd really like to go. Well,
(07:03):
I really love Tasmania as a as a state.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
It reminds me a lot of New Zealand for how
it looks like.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
But yeah, I just it's hard to like a place
where you just haven't done well in the past. So
hopefully this year we can turn it around and make
it one of our strong grounds.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
But I don't see any reason why we couldn't.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
I think we just need to work pretty hard at
identifying what we need to target.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Matt Payne, Grove Racing, pen right race car. It's a forward,
it's Mustang, it's in supercars, joins us. Now are you
speak of Simmons planes. That's like a fifty something second lap,
it's super super fast and it's got the best hairpin
in world motor sport. That from again a viewer's point
of view, maybe not for a mechanics or a guy
(07:54):
who's got to look after the dents in the car.
It's so great because that turn is wild. How's that
best approached? You have to take it, like I suppose,
lap by lap, depending on where the traffic's at.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Yeah, it's pretty tough.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Like when you're in the start of the race and
you're backed up a little bit, there's always a big,
big congestion going in there. It certainly it's it's definitely
what kind of creates your lap time as well. How
how best you can turn around it, how good your
driver is out of it, and how good your braking is.
So it's tough like and because that's really the defining
(08:29):
corner on the track, you really have to work hard
at it.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
So it's it's definitely character building. I'd say, work harder.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
That's all we can say, Well, hey, what do you
have to lift from the topo weekenduse you've got to
you got to pack that down. Ain't you walk away
from it because it's done now? But are there any
keys out of that weekend that you can carry on
with you?
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I think for sure for us it would just have
to be rolling out of the rolling out of the
container fast. Like we really had a problem being outside
the top three in every practice, which was a really
positive thing for us. I think we've identified a few
things on our car that have generally helped us helped
(09:13):
us with that, but as well as it is just
some of the racing, I think I think we all
we did a really good job with racecraft and navigating
through all the traffic, and especially in that race too,
and even the last race, you know, passing for the leads.
So I think that's definitely one of the coolest races
I've done, but in the whole picture of that, you know,
(09:34):
I feel like it's probably one of the most complete
weekends we've put together as a race team.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
And you know, it feels good obviously when that happens.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
One last thing for we met Payne. Thanks so much
for taking the time to talk that race through Jason
Richard's memorial. You pick that up, which is great. We
don't want me as he's running away with it. That's
just got to add a wee bit extra. There's a
lot of emotion. This is a this is a sort
after trophy. This is a very respected trophy in New
Zealand noticeable.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Yeah, it was certainly something that I went into the
week in obviously conscious of it, but to come out
of Saturday leading the points for it and then going
to sleep and thinking, wow, we actually might really have
a shot at this, and then you know, sort of
starting up the front near near there on Sunday and
(10:23):
then actually as soon as I got to the front
and to the lead, I thought, wow, this is a
this is a real possibility that we might get our
hands on it. And look, even if I want it
and I didn't win the Sunday race, I still would
have been happy, but I think winning the race on
Sunday and getting that was definitely the perfect way to
send it off. Really.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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