Home hero Payne tops tricky qualifying

Matt Payne has topped his first ever Supercars qualifying session on home soil in tricky conditions at Taupo.

In the first qualifying session at Taupo, drivers had to contend with the added challenges of Saturday morning drizzle and a drying circuit to make the Top 10 Shootout.

After 15 tense minutes, home hero Payne rose to the occasion and nailed it, being the only driver in the 1m27s window with a 1:27.9684.

He led a Ford top four by 0.09s ahead of Anton De Pasquale, Chaz Mostert and Will Davison.

Others that will take part in the maiden Taupo Shootout will be Cam Hill, Kiwi rookie Ryan Wood, Will Brown, Cam Waters, Andre Heimgartner and Tim Slade.

Some big names that missed the cut included Broc Feeney, Brodie Kostecki, David Reynolds, Nick Percat and Richie Stanaway, with the final two names filling the back row.

Drivers ventured on slick tyres on a damp track that was worsening with drizzle creating headaches.

Feeney and Payne set identical times with a 1:33.6049 but this proved to be nothing as those who went later shot to the top.

De Pasquale emerged fastest from the first cracks with a 1:31.0723 which was just 0.0289s faster than the impressive Aaron Love.

But now the drizzle had stopped and a dry line emerged, ensuring the times continued to get faster.

Heimgartner fastest first sector to set the fastest second lap of a 1:29.1917, 0.0699s faster than teammate Bryce Fullwood.

The two BJR cars were three tenths faster than next best Davison, who then had a moment at turn 11.

The likes of Payne, Wood and Hill ventured into the 1m28s window on their fourth lap as many dived to the pits for the first time.

Kostecki’s first push lap was on the third attempt and he rose from last to seventh after slipping off on the exit of turn 4 and hitting a Coates sign.

With five minutes remaining most of the field started their final runs to ensure they could get temperature in the tyres for the late charge.

Brown, Slade, Randle and Fullwood all snuck ahead of Payne’s benchmark as it was anyone’s guess who would make the 10 amid the ever fluctuating order.

For a moment it was a DJR 1-2 led by De Pasquale before Payne returned to the top as the likes of Wood, Waters, Hill and Heimgartner made late moves into the 10.

Brown sat seventh when he dived to the pits with Slade on the bubble as the chequered flag fell.

In the end they did not have to worry as no one threatened at the death, while Payne was in a league of his own.

The one-lap pursuit for the first ever pole at Taupo will take place at 10.00 AEST.