Payne proud to deliver on special stage
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 16 April 2025
Matt Payne waited for the perfect moment to produce his most complete weekend as he became the third Kiwi to lift the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy at Taupo.
Payne was close to perfect, dominating the first and third races of the Taupo Super440, characterised by a stunning move on Cameron Hill for the lead.
A fourth place between the wins were enough to comfortably get the famous trophy back in Kiwi hands for the first time since 2022.
It was also the first time Grove Racing has won multiple races in the same round which shows the significant steps Payne and Grove Racing are making together.
Payne admitted holding the JR Trophy is a new career highlight.
“It has been really special. I watched a lot of Jason when I was growing up and he was in the time when started watching,” he said.
“It is really cool for myself to get it done, especially being a Kiwi on home soil.
“I told myself not to look at the points but knew a good race would be enough to take it out.
“I would have been gutted if I did not get to do it without a win, but was glad to get it done.”
Payne identified the mid point of last year when he took his recent win at Townsville as a moment where he has raised his game.
“Through the middle part of the year I think I was starting to get my head around things a bit more,” he said.
“It put a bit of a picture in my head in terms of how races should be run.
“This year all I have been doing is just trying to take the right opportunities and the right times and execute what we need to do.
“That has what has led us to this point and it is all quite simple really.”
Payne said the team just carried momentum through the weekend.
“We rolled out of the truck speedy and continued from there,” he said.
“Saturday put us on the front foot and today was a little bit tougher. We did not have as much in qualifying and struggled to get the most out of the tyre.
“There was then a bit of action at the start which we capitalised and from there we pretty much ran our own race.
“I had to find another step in my driving and I am glad I did.”
Grove Racing Team Principal David Cauchi also said this is a standout weekend for the whole team.
“I am very proud of him and the entire team,” he said.
“We have shown we can win races in the past, but this is one of the first weekends where we have put the whole round together from roll out, qualifying and executing the races and pit stops.
“The development of Kai has been very impressive and been up there having some solid results.
“There are just lots of positives for the team overall.”
Suddenly Payne now sits third in the Sprint Cup title race, but he is not concerned with Tasmania up next where Grove Racing has not finished higher than 12th in the Gen3 era.
“It is good we have two wins in one round which has helped our championship progress,” he said.
“But I would not get too far ahead of myself.
“For us now it is really important we store this in the bank and build on it ahead.
“There are a couple of tough tracks ahead for us so we need to knuckle down and make sure we are not inconsistent like previous years.”
Image: Mark Horsburgh
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