Supercars Championship 2026: Sandown 500 Race 34 Report | Payne wins in Sandown in thrilling finals pursuit
Photo Credit: Matthew Payne Instagram
Qualifying this morning was followed by a Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout where Matthew Payne took the fastest time of the session, a 1:08.110 marking his territory around Sandown Motor Raceway ahead of Anton De Pasquale.
On the second row of the grid, a surprise front of the grid debut for Premier Racing after their mid-season driver swap, Cooper Murray sits in third on the grid, 0.1992 behind payne's fastest time. Joining Murray is Brodie Kostecki, ensuring a stunning battle for the race ahead.
This race will confirm the final four for the BP Adelaide Grand Final, pushing the stakes higher for the championship, hopes and dreams all to come down to the chequered flag at the end of Race 34 in 2026.
79 laps will be accompanied by two compulsory pit-stops requiring fuel and tyres. A block-buster of a race is set to lay ahead; strategies will showcase Australia's best racing this afternoon.
Kostecki has locked himself in for the BP Adelaide Grand Final, today will confirm the following three drivers he will be fighting for the championship title with.
As it happens
Payne and De Pasquale lead the field through the first lap relatively cleanly, worries flaring up and down pit lane as Payne's No.19 Penrite Racing Mustang could be too quick to beat if given the opportunity in clean air.
Lap 4, a three-way battle between Thomas Randle, James Golding, and Zach Bates erupts, Chaz Mostert on the back of their battle pack in 10th position, looking to make some moves forward to stay in the top four drivers for Adelaide's Grand Final.
A bad sportsmanship flag has been awarded to Bates in the No.10 Chevrolet Camaro for driver conduct, creating a challenge ahead; he must now behave himself and keep his nose clean.
Stewards have issued that they have noted the start procedure at the start of the race for Kostecki in the No.17 Shell V Power Mustang; race control have since placed the start procedure under investigation on Lap 11.
A pit-lane drive through penalty due to a breach of the race start procedure; Kostecki allegedly switched the engine off and rolled into the grid box prior to the race start.
Lap 12, Kostecki serves his pit-lane drive through penalty, putting him down in 23rd position.
Lap 14, the first of the pit-stops began with Kai Allen, putting on four new fresh boots; a quick sip of fuel after struggling with his tyres.
Lap 15, a few of the field come in to grab tyres and a drink of fuel - Golding gaining a quick bodywork removal to reduce tyre-rubbing; Mostert appears on the radio suggesting an issue with brakes - his engineer, Sam Scaffidi, asking him if he can adjust the brake bias, the No.1 Toyota Supra seemingly struggling during his battle with young Bates ahead.
Lap 20, Will Brown makes his way to eighth after passing Macauley Jones, keeping his finals hope alive so far.
Lap 21, a radio appears - Payne cracks a joke to Jack Bell, his engineer, suggesting his drink bottle is leaking, but remaining positive, expressing he doesn't feel thirsty.
Lap 27, Waters shares complaints of his rear view mirror has broken, with coverage showing it's hanging down and would be causing limited visibility in the No.6 Monster Energy Mustang - he rips it down, restoring his view.
Lap 40, Mostert passes his teammate - a team game going into play as Mostert chases staying within the top four.
Lap 41, major contact with Jack Le Brocq and Golding creates a show-stopping spin by the No.7 Cool Drive BRT Mustang, narrowly missing contact with the rear of his car and the barrier. It looks as if Le Brocq makes direct contact with the right rear of Golding a penalty could be on the horizon, with stewards placing the incident on note.
Lap 48, Allen comes under pressure with cold tyres, defending from Wood - Wood goes down the inside, getting the job done; Randle and Golding looking rather spicy as they chase down the No.26 Penrite Mustang.
Lap 51, Randle and De Pasquale begin a furious battle, touch and go as Randle pushes hard and refuses to brake first, giving the attitude in return; this earns Randle a bad sportsmanship flag for driver conduct.
Lap 52, De Pasquale almost jumps Payne in the pit-lane, the No.19 Penrite Racing Mustang moves slow to get back into the lane, but gets in front of the No.18 Chevrolet Camaro.
Lap 58, a heated battle begins between Rylan Gray and Aaron Cameron, the No.3 Liqui Moly BRT Mustang looking eager to get past.
Lap 59, Mostert sends his No.1 Toyota Supra down the inside of Randle's No.55 Tickford Mustang - making contact with the rear of the No.55 Mustang. Further back, Cameron gets past Gray's No.38 Shell V Power Mustang.
Lap 60, Brown finally takes his second pit stop of the race, taking four new tyres and a long drink of fuel, Kostecki pitting behind him - Brown comes out in a mid-pack mingle, everyone fighting for track position.
From right now, it looks like Payne, Feeney, Mostert and Kostecki will be the four fighting for the Championship title.
Lap 63, Mostert is in the four unless De Pasquale goes on to win the race - a major confirmation for Mozzie as he goes on with a clear goal.
Kostecki has a moment, popping back on track right in front of David Reynolds, the field looking to be coming alive even more so than before.
Lap 70, De Pasquale's Chevrolet Camaro is seen attempting to chase down Payne, chasing the opportunity to be in the top four who will be fighting for the title; he will be the only Chevrolet Camaro if he is successful today.
Lap 74, Payne catches the back of the field, De Pasquale pushing hard to catch the rear of the No.19 Penrite Racing Mustang, looking very likely to be on the rear of the current championship and race leader.
Lap 76, the back markers are not moving out of the way, until gray finally moves over on the pit straight - Payne still dealing with three more back markers.
Lap 79, Hughes and Cameron are still holding up the two cars currently battling it out - Payne crosses the line by seven tenths of a second, De Pasquale missing his qualification for the final round of the year, keeping in Mostert in the top four.
Murray finishes on the podium in just his second round with Premier Racing, giving emotional confirmation his change of teams mid-season was worth the turmoil in the tabloids.
Kostecki, Payne, Feeney, and Mostert will be the four to battle it out on the streets of Adelaide on the 26-29 November, later this month, where a champion will be crowned.
The Results
Matthew Payne
Anton De Pasquale
Cooper Murray
Broc Feeney
Chaz Mostert
Thomas Randle
Will Brown
Andre Heimgartner
Jayden Ojeda
Brodie Kostecki
Jack Le Brocq
Zach Bates
David Reynolds
Macauley Jones
Cam Waters
Ryan Wood
James Golding
Kai Allen
Cameron Hill
Jarrod Hughes
Aaron Cameron
Jobe Stewart
Rylan Gray
Jackson Walls
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