Supercars Championship: 2026 Perth Super 440 Race 24 Report | Feeney ends Triple Eight drought with stunning drive at Wanneroo Raceway
- Tayla Purves
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Photo Credit: Red Bull Ampol Racing | Instagram
Supercars in Western Australia is always an exciting event; it's certain to be packed full of action, which fans witnessed earlier today as Matthew Payne completed his very first pole to race win conversion of his career in Race 23.
Earlier this morning, the Boost Mobile Qualifying for Race 24 showcased another pole position for young New Zealander Payne, with current Championship and Sprint Cup rival, Broc Feeney joining him on the front row.
On the second row, Kai Allen joined forces with Thomas Randle, the front of the grid officially an all Ford lockout, the Mustang's looking favourable for this weekend.
The Ford Mustang camp go into this evening's race as official Manufacturer Champions!
No refuelling will be required for this race, just 112 litres of fuel expected to be used for this 120km race - only 50 laps of Supercars madness. One compulsory stop will be taken, the expected pit window sitting around Lap 19 - similar to the sister dual race earlier today.
As it happens
Right on the race start, Payne makes his best start of the season, Feeney falling in behind. More chaos unravels within the opening lap, Allen and Randle touch doors as in a heated battle as they approached the hill.
Payne once again converts his pole position, defending his Repco Sprint Cup lead expertly against Feeney.
Lap 6, the field find their pace for the race ahead - roughly just past an hour left to go for this short stint on track.
Rylan Gray showcases his immense talent, his career best statistics being created and enhanced this weekend, his strength and potential on an upward trajectory as he battles with precision and speed; the rookie looking to have a weekend worth remembering.
Further up the grid on Lap 9, Chaz Mostert begins finessing his pace and car placement behind fellow Toyota Supra driver Andre Heimgartner.
Lap 11, Will Brown gets past Waters and to the inside line to further defend - Brown gaining four positions, his momentum strong early on in this race.
A three way battle on Lap 14, Waters struggling in terms of speed begins coming under fire from Wood and Anton De Pasquale, the No.6 Monster Energy Mustang just holding off the hungry hunters behind. Waters momentarily losing track position before regaining his ninth position.
Lap 17, the pit window officially opens earlier than expected with Mostert taking four tyres. Upon his entry to the track, chaos across the track looks to be nearing as Allen seeming to be closing in on Feeney, a gap of +0.489 separating the two for second position.
Lap 22, Kostecki and Heimgartner go side by side as Feeney enters the pit lane to take his compulsory stop, covering off any potential undercut by direct rival, Allen - which turns out a successful strategic call.
Payne makes his move to come into the pit lane on Lap 25, a handy late call to gain a potential advantage; short lived as he entered a mid-pack battle immediately.
Lap 28, Feeney seizes an opportunity to take the race lead from Payne with a bit of hit and shoving included, Allen chasing the tail of his teammate as all in the field bar Jayden Ojeda have officially completed their compulsory put stops.
Lap 30, Payne comes onto the radio to suggest understeer problems arising during his battle to regain the lead of the race.
On Lap 32, Brown succeeds at being named the Equip Super Biggest Mover with several position changes, putting him within the top five as the race nears the chequered flag being waved.
Payne gets heated on the radio, his frustration boiling to the top as Jack Bell calms his driver down with a stern response, reassuring Payne he is not out of this race yet - the New Zealander only in second with a +0.751 gap.
Race control announce they have provided car No.18 with a bad sportsmanship flag for exceeding track limits, De Pasquale gaining a warning just outside the top ten - this weekend showing a common error of exceeding track limits for most of the field.
Lap 43, teammates Randle and Waters play cat and mouse, the No.6 Monster Energy Mustang sticking to the rear of the No.55 Castrol Mustang.
Kostecki gains on Brown with just six laps remaining to the finish line as Feeney gains a bad sportsmanship flag during Turn 8.
Kostecki gets close and personal to the rear of the No.888 Red Bull Ampol Racing Mustang, dropping a little off the pace before gaining further momentum down the hill - the battle a tight fight between mates and rivals with just three laps to go.
Seven races without a podium has been the longest time in recent years for Red Bull Ampol Racing, young Feeney placing the team back on the top step of the podium, effectively ending Triple Eight's longest winless drought in their Supercars Championship campaign.
The Supercars paddock go racing for the final time at Wanneroo Raceway tomorrow at 3:20pm local time (AWST), or alternatively 5:20pm AEST and 8:20am BST.
The final qualifying session for the weekend begins tomorrow morning at 11am AWST local time.
The Results
Broc Feeney
Matthew Payne
Kai Allen
Chaz Mostert
Will Brown
Brodie Kostecki
Andre Heimgartner
Ryan Wood
Cameron Waters
Thomas Randle
Anton De Pasquale
Declan Fraser
Jack Le Brocq
James Golding
David Reynolds
Jobe Stewart
Rylan Gray
Jayden Ojeda
Cooper Murray
Cameron Hill
Aaron Cameron
Zach Bates
Macauley Jones
Jackson Walls
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