Kiwi star Matt Payne equal top after Repco Supercars Championship opener

The trio of kiwi drivers in Repco Supercars will head into the exciting event at the Australian Grand Prix in two weeks full of confidence after strong performances in the opening 2026 three-race round at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Matt Payne from Penrite Racing is second in the championship on countback but on the same points with double-round winner Broc Feeney, with the kiwi driver enjoying two podiums and a fourth placing from the three races in Sydney.

Payne was fourth in the Friday opener, third in a challenging race on Saturday and a superb second placing behind Feeney in a difficult third race on Sunday, where he battled some tyre issues and rain mid-race.

Both the other kiwis are driving Toyota GR Supras in 2026 – after the famed manufacturer entered the Repco Supercars Championship for the first time this year.

Ryan Wood drives for Walkinshaw Andretti United team and Andre Heimgartner for Brad Jones Racing – both making the move to the new Toyotas.

Wood was back in 21st in race one, but had excellent races on Saturday and Sunday to finish seventh and fifth respectively, while Heimgartner had a suspected engine failure on Saturday but was eighth on Friday and ninth on Sunday for a solid start.

The trio will push on to the sprint rounds on the undercard of the Australian Grand Prix before preparing for the exciting double rounds in New Zealand, the ITM Taupo Super 440 on 10-12 April and the new ITM Christchurch Super 440 on 17-19 April.

There was a record attendance of 52,000 over the weekend in Sydney.