No penalties in dramatic Supercars race

Motorsport Australia officials have decided not to impose any penalties from a dramatic Race 5 of the 2024 Supercars Championship.

In what could become one of the most dramatic episodes of the 2024 Supercars season, Cam Waters and Matt Payne tangled at the final corner when fighting for the lead.

The two Fords fought across four corners but clashed when both drivers tried to claim the racing line approaching the final right hander.

Both Mustangs collided into the wall, leaving Payne and Waters devastated, having lost the chance to score a rare win, and there were words exchanged in the immediate aftermath.

Despite Payne and Waters not being impressed with each other and Tickford labelling the Penrite Racing driver’s actions as a “rookie mistake”, the officials decided no penalties were required.

After reviewing the clash, the Motorsport Australia race officials believed “both drivers contributed” to the incident.

“During the race, the DRD reviewed the available broadcast and in-car vision of an incident between Car 6 Cam Waters and Car 19 Matthew Payne,” read the Motorsport Australia statement.

“In consultation with the DSA determined that Car 6 initially made contact to the rear of Car 19 causing Car19 wide at the apex of Turn 13, with Car 6 gaining an advantage on Car 19 on the outside approaching Turn 14. 

“Car 19 has moved back to the traditional racing line for Turn 14 causing contact to Car 6. 

“The Stewards have deemed that each driver (Car 6 for Turn 13 and Car 19 for Turn 14) contributed to the incident where neither driver has been classified as a Finisher in the race classifications.

“The Stewards believe in this instance imposing any further Time Penalties on either driver is not warranted.”

A number of other flashpoints from the short but dramatic Race 5 were also sent to the stewards.

Separate lap 1 moments between Mark Winterbottom and the half-spun Cam Hill, James Courtney and James Golding, plus Anton De Pasquale and Thomas Randle, requested by Matt Stone Racing, PremiAir and Tickford, respectively, were cleared.

Penrite Racing also requested a look at a moment between Todd Hazelwood and Richie Stanaway on lap 2 at turn 11.

After all the drama, rivalries will resume at 10.25 AEDT this morning for the fourth and final race of the Melbourne SuperSprint.

Supercars Australian Grand Prix schedule

Thursday, March 21

Practice 1: 1: M. Jones 2: M. Payne 3: C. Waters

Practice 2: 1 B. Feeney 2: C. Waters 3: A. De Pasquale

Qualifying R3 Qualifying R4 Poles B. Feeney, C. Waters

Race 3: 1: B. Feeney 2: W. Brown 3: M. Payne

Friday, March 22

Race 4 (20 laps): 1: W. Brown 2: M. Winterbottom 3: M. Payne

Saturday, March 23

Qualifying R5: 1: M. Payne 2: C. Waters 3: C. Mostert

Qualifying R6: 1: C. Mostert 2: M. Payne 3: C. Waters

Race 5 (14 laps): 1: B. Feeney 2: W. Brown 3: C. Mostert

Sunday, March 24

Race 6 (14 laps): 10.20-10.55

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