How Payne starved off challenges to Bathurst glory
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 14 October 2025
Kiwi Matt Payne showed maturity beyond his years as he overcame several challenges to drive into the Bathurst history books.
Payne and Garth Tander pushed Ford back to the top step on the podium at Mount Panorama for the first time since 2019, when Scott McLaughlin and Alex Premat broke a drought for DJR.
The Grove Racing pair did it the hard way, winning from the third-lowest grid position of 18th in some of the toughest conditions imaginable.
Payne admitted he did not think the Peter Brock Trophy was within sight after Friday’s disappointing qualifying.
“I thought it would be pretty optimistic,” he said.
“It was a really hard day on Friday, we just did not have the pace.
“We did a good job at turning the car around, and it was speedy in the dry as well.
“But almost the whole race was in the wet, so that is what you had to be quick in, and we made some good changes in the pit stops, and that put us in the right direction.
“It is pretty special for myself, Gartj and the whole team at Penrite Racing.
“They did an unbelievable job to stay cool and make some really good decisions.
“It is super cool to get the win.”
Although he had the likes of James Golding, David Reynolds and Cooper Murray all over him during an unforgettable final stint, Payne held his nerve.
He started the run home eighth, but quickly charged forward.
Despite all the good work, Payne feared his shot at victory had disappeared after his bold move at The Chase.
The Kiwi went door to door with Murray through the fastest point of the track and despite the #100 Mustang going sideways at one point, he still gathered it up, but still slipped off and lost second.
At that stage he thought his victory hopes were gone before the Golding and Murray Camaros opened the gate.
“It was a pretty cool move,” Payne said of his battle with Murray.
“When I was going down the straight, I thought I just have to make it stick and go for it.
“I hung around the outside, but caught the left rear on the grass, which did not make me pull it up in time.
“I had a crack, but it was a wild moment, thought I was done, so pretty cool to come back from that.
“I saw Jimmy had a really good run (on Murray) coming into Turn 2 and knew he was going to go and it would be pretty tricky because it was greasy on the inside.
“Those two made contact and luckily, I could sweep through on the inside.”
Although he snuck past Golding and Murray in one go, the race was not won as Reynolds made a late charge.
The pair even made contact in the final tour of The Cutting, but Payne knew he could secure the win by the time he arrived at Conrod Straight.
“I felt like our last two or three laps we faded a bit as the track dried out so it was tough,” he said.
“His thing was a rocket ship, so I knew it was going to be pretty tough, but I thought if I could get out of the Elbow alright, I would be okay.”
It is the continuation of a stunning year for Payne as he adds the Peter Brock Trophy to the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy.
To complete the set, he and Grove Racing switch their focus to Finals and the title.
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