SUPER2: PAYNE'S HOME RUN IN ADELAIDE

The Super2 season finished in Adelaide which saw a five way fight for the title. Our own Matt Payne secured second place overall in the Dunlop Super2 season with a strong and consistent weekend.

Payne completed the first practice session in third behind series champion Declan Fraser and Tickford's Zak Best.

Payne set great pace early in the session before Hill dipped into the 1:22s barrier however his time was ultimately beaten by Payne with an impressive 1:22.026s.

Jay Hanson triggered the first stoppage for the weekend with an incident at Turn 7 with the session red flagged.

An incident also brought the second practice session to a a premature halt with Payne completing his session in third place.

An impressive Qualifying saw Payne start Race 1 from P2 as he and Fraser set times faster than Thomas Randle’s Qualifying lap in 2020. Payne was just behind pole sitter Fraser with a 1:20.400s.

A disappointing Second Qualifying saw Payne start from P6 on the grid for the final race.

Race 1 was shortened due to multiple safety car interruptions crash on lap 6 saw several laps completed under caution flags. The race was restarted with Fraser leading Payne on lap 12 with our young gun crossing the line to finish 2nd.

The finale VALO Adelaide 500 Super2 race saw Fraser secure the title with Payne classifying fourth and finishing the race 3rd overall in the championship with 1209 points.

Congratulations to Declan for a fine year and his championship victory in a competitive and hard fought season.

Payne capped off his season being honoured with the Mike Kable Award for Rookie of the Year.

The 20-year-old kiwi showed speed and maturity beyond his years in 2022 with 2 race wins, 1 overall round win, 6 top three race finishes and 3 podiums on the way to 3rd in the Championship, all while earning a 6th place finish in his first Bathurst 1000 alongside Lee Holdsworth.

Payne is the first graduate of the Grove Junior Team to progress to Supercars full-time where in 2023 Payne will join David Reynolds at Penrite Racing.

Follow Grove Junior Team and Matthew Payne on Facebook and Instagram.