Supercars Championship: 2026 Perth Super 440 Race 23 Recap
- Tayla Purves
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Photo credit: Matthew Payne Instagram
Saturday morning at Wanneroo Raceway started out wonderful for the No.19 Penrite Racing Mustang, Matthew Payne beginning his weekend on pole with a quick 0:54.048. Behind him, Cameron Waters took second place on the grid by a gap of just 0.0370.
Thomas Randle and Ryan Wood make up the second row of the grid ahead of Race 23 on Saturday afternoon.
Race 23 is marked as a 120km race with one compulsory pit stop; only 112 litres of fuel is required for this afternoons race.
Just a few races remain in the Repco Sprint Cup, Perth proving to be a pivotal weekend in the crowning of the first champion of the year.
Unfortuantely, after an impeding incident, hometown hero Brodie Kostecki becoming one of four penalised with a grid-drop penatly. Kostecki will be starting from eight position. This is the second impeding penalty collected by the No.17 Shell V Power Mustang driver in four rounds.
Other drivers given grid-drop penalties include Jayden Ojeda, Zach bates, and Jobe Stewart.
As it happened
Upon the green flag waved, Waters got an incredible leap on Payne, taking the lead as Wood gained track position above Randle.
The field seemed to get through the first corner nice and tidy, the field looking quick as they found their race pace for the opening race of the Bosch Power tools Perth Super 440 weekend.
The tyre degradation is a known factor at this track; the field easing their tyres into the race - Macauley Jones, James Golding, and Cooper Murray in a three-way battle.
Lap 5, Payne snatches the quickest lap of the race, pushing down the inside for the lead as Ryan Wood follows suit - their own battle coming to fruition, a kiss to the grass from the right of Wood's Toyota Supra.
Payne kept track position out in front of the field, the action fans are used to seeing in Western Australia shining through in true Wanneroo Raceway fashion.
Lap 10, the pack looked fairly calm until Chaz Mostert swung out around rookie Rylan Gray in a quick and composed move, the veteran in the No.1 Toyota Supra showing his experience as clear as day.
On Lap 15, Waters came under pressure from Kai Allen, the No.26 Penrite Racing Mustang looking fierce on his arrival to the No.6 Monster Energy Mustang's rear.
Another battle, teammates at Red Bull Ampol Racing, broke out as Broc Feeney passed Will Brown, his speed looking promising early on in the race.
A bad sportsmanship flag was awarded to car No.96, Jones hitting track limits consistently enough to be given the warning.
Amid the chaos, Allen cleared Waters, effectively moving himself into podium contention as the pit window officially opened.
Lap 23, Allen and Kostecki push the limits, the No.17 Shell V Power Racing Mustang getting the move done over the No.26 Penrite Racing Mustang.
Lap 25, their battle reopened, Allen almost making the same move that was used on him, Randle coming in hot behind the two.
Payne took his one and only stop on Lap 29, Waters doing the same - his stop showing costly time as a right hand rear tyre became difficult to switch out efficiently.
Lap 31, Allen and Randle fought just outside the podium placement, Allen pushing the No.55 Castrol Mustang into the grass.
Lap 32, race control announsed a bad sportsmanship flag for Allen's No.26 Penrite Racing Mustang as a result of driver conduct from the last lap's manouever.
The bad luck continued for young-gun Allen, receiving yet another bad sportsmanship flag for exceeding track limits at Turn 7.
Lap 33, Waters fights for a position inside the top ten against Andre Heimgartner - his pit stop earlier certainly one to forget as the weekend progresses.
Allen and Kostecki reignited their Race 23 fued; their tyre useage heavy as they battle one another for fourth position - Kostecki ahead as Randle continues to gain on their rear; Anton De Pasquale losing out to the preferred track position, staying close to the rear bumper of the No.55 Castrol Mustang.
Lap 37, De Pasquale made his way past Randle to take back his sixth position.
Lap 39, Allen tried his luck down the inside - Kostecki flying straight into the sand trap after contact to the No.17 Shell V Power Mustang's right rear quarter panel The Shannons Safety Car was immediately dispatched due to Kostecki remaining beached, Payne's four-second lead forgotten as the end of the race nears.
During the Safety Car's tenth appearance for the season on Lap 41, many cars in the field went into the pit lane to snag an extra free stop; a benefit for some considering tyre life and its known expiration at Wanneroo Raceway.
The race restart began on Lap 43, with just seven laps remaining until the chequered flag - Payne got a decent start, Wood maintaining a small gap.
Waters overtook Randle with six laps to go, the two coming under fire from Heimgartner, with only Randle succumbing to the No.8 Toyota Supra's assault.
A mentionable fast-paced car in the field was Broc Feeney, the No.88 Red Bull Ampol Racing Mustang pushing hard to gain track positionsl; a recovery drive well and truly on its way. Every position he makes, closes the gap in the Repco Sprint Cup.
Waters, Allen, and Mostert go three wide over the hill with three laps to go, each squeezing one another - Waters and Mostert pushing on and gaining the track position, Allen falling in behind at Turn 7.
Payne kept it together with his pace and precision on track, crossing the line as the Race 23 winner - the Manufacturers Championship won at the same time; Ford coming out as most dominant this season.
The results
Matthew Payne
Ryan Wood
Anton De Pasquale
Cam Waters
Chaz Mostert
Kai Allen
Broc Feeney
Andre Heimgartner
Thomas Randle
Rylan Gray
Jack Le Brocq
Will Brown
Cooper Murray
Cameron Hill
James Golding
Aaron Cameron
Jackson Walls
Jobe Stewart
David Reynolds
Jayden Ojeda
Declan Fraser
Zach Bates
Macauley Jones
Brodie Kostecki
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