Supercars Championship: 2026 ITM Christchurch Super 440 Race 13 Recap
- Tayla Purves
- Apr 19
- 5 min read
Qualifying was exciting for fans, a new variety of drivers at the front, with the Top Ten Shoot Out for the final race of the weekend led by Matthew Payne with a 1:20.982 followed by a surprise visit from Anton De Pasquale.
Row two had Ryan Wood and Will Brown ready to fight it out for track position.
On the formation lap, it was disappointment for Cam Waters, driver of the No.6 Monster Energy Mustang; the car suffering alleged starter motor issues, given a bit of a hand by the recovery vehicle and team, later starting the race from pit lane.
A 100th race for Cameron Hill is marked for Race 13 of the 2026 championship, the second milestone the category has seen and all at Christchurch's debut.
The green flag waved and the Supercars field roared by excited fans, Brown and Payne pushing ahead of the pack.
Further down, a train errupted with drama unfolding for Rylan Gray, Aaron Cameron, Jackson Walls, and Thomas Randle. Serious damage for all four looked to be devastating for the final race of the weekend, the front end of the No.38 Mustang smashed in.
The safety car came out on just Lap 2 after Walls was caught up in a quick braking zone, a large train of cars involved. It was green flag on Lap 3, racing resuming shortly after.
Contact between De Pasquale and Wood, the Chevrolet Camaro getting swallowed up by the grid behind, pushing De Pasquale further down and only just inside the top ten.
While drama continued to occur further down the grid, Payne pushed further in front, attempting to pull a reasonable gap from Brown.
Lap 5, aggressive blocking from Brown over Kai Allen pushed rivalries, the stalk behind just as aggressive as the No.88 Red Bull Ampol Racing Mustang made his presence known behind Allen.
It didn't end there, a tight battle from second to sixth positions, each after one another's track position.
The Bull's allegedly had some radio errors earlier on the weekend, which looked to have made a return for Race 13, a pit board hanging over for both of their Mustang's.
On Lap 8, bad sportsmanship flag was awarded to Brown for excessive blocking down towards Turn 11, with the threat of a repeat leading to a penalty for the No.888 Mustang.
Lap 13, Allen pitted early, starting the trend for the rest of the field to start coming in - Brown heading in to cover off Allen. A nail biting try at an undercut turned successful
The first stop of the race began with Cameron Hill, who is slowly working his way up the grid.
A bumpy off road visit took place for Macauley Jones, on Lap 15, flicking dirt up into the air on his return to the track.
Nine cars remain without stopping on track, including race leader Payne.
Lap 19, Wood got a move on De Pasquale, putting him in the chase to Kostecki's rear bumper.
It wasn't til Lap 24 that action heated up, the Bull's going head to head, Feeney going straight down the inside with little to no fight from Brown - Feeney free to chase down Wood.
And crucially, Payne came in to the lane, heading out behind Hill and in front of his Penrite Racing teammate, Hill going in the lap after to take his second stop.
A strategic pass on Wood took place on Lap 27 by Mostert, leading his teammate to the top five.
Further chaos erupted as a four-way battle began between Golding, Murray, Waters and Reynolds - the Snowy River Caravans Chevrolet Camaro with smoke behind.
Mid race, Lap 34 the rest of the field slowly made their way in for the second stops, jumbling up the grid once again.
Reynolds spun and stuck on the outside of Turn 4, assisted by Bates on Lap 35, the incident noted as Reynolds fired up his Chevrolet Camaro once again.
Hill placed pressure through bumps on the back of Bates, gaining side draft to get the job done, while bates experienced mega pressure from two others.
Brown and Kostecki made their way into the lane on Lap 39, Kostecki the favoured for track position, as they started their battle once more.
Lap 41, Wood made his way into the pit, jumping out behind Brown, entering right into the fight - Wood currently leads the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy standings, his sights set on the podium and the memorial trophy.
Payne was told on Lap 42, that his next set of tyres would be better - Payne already pulling ahead with a +9.500 gap ahead of teammate Allen.
The next battle on Lap 44, Hill battling Allen with Feeney behind - frustrations raising as Hill demands for a pit stop, finally moving out of the way for the No.26 Mustang.
Wood and Brown's battle heated up, all while further up the pack, Allen pushed for the fastest time, making up for any time lost behind a wide Toyota Supra.
Payne made his way into the lane on Lap 47, starting the next lap on fresh tyres, remaining +6.467 ahead of his teammate.
The fight between Brown and Wood continued on Lap 50, Wood slowly inching closer to the rear of the No.888 Mustang - but the controversy began with soft bumps from Waters on Golding, after aggressive blocking that was dished a bad sportsmanship flag.
With just seven laps to go, Wood came to a very slow stop on the front straight, effectively ending his weekend, and his chance at winning the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy; safety car on track with Kostecki and Feeney equal for points - a tie break to be used, whoever finishes higher in the race.
A race restart begins with three laps remaining as all hell breaks loose: Penrite Racing teammates play it safe and do their best to race ahead while Feeney and Mostert battle it out, giving Kostecki time to add pressure.
Mostert pushes Kostecki off track and into oncoming traffic - luckily no traffic making contact with the No.17 Mustang side on.
A 30-second time penalty was given by stewards to Mostert, pushing him back to seventeenth position.
Payne went on to secure a win on the south island in New Zealand, making it a double podium for Penrite Racing, and Feeney awarded the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy, while placing third on the podium.
The full results
Matthew Payne 1:30.06.017
Kai Allen +1.125
Broc Feeney +2.064
James Golding +5.889
Cam Waters +6.809
Will Brown +7.199
Jack Le Brocq +8.421
Andre Heimgartner +8.421
Cooper Murray +8.998
Declan Fraser +9.296
Anton De Pasquale +9.673
Cameron Hill +10.427
David Reynolds +10.805
Jayden Ojeda +11.089
Zach Bates +12.706
Macauley Jones +13.776
Chaz Mostert +35.475
Brodie Kostecki +37.653
Thomas Randle +1 Lap
Jobe Stewart +5 Laps
Jackson Walls +11 Laps
Ryan Wood DNF
Aaron Cameron DNF
Rylan Gray DNF
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