Payne fastest in opening Taupo qualifying

Matt Payne has qualified on the provisional pole for this afternoon’s ITM Taupo Super400 race in this morning’s 15-minute timed session at Taupo International Motorsport Park.

Payne is one of three Kiwis to progress to the Top 10 Shootout, with Ryan Wood qualifying sixth and Andre Heimgartner eighth.

Shell V-Power Racing’s Anton De Pasquale also qualified, as did Wood’s Walkinshaw Andretti United teammate Chaz Mostert, in third. Championship leader Will Brown was seventh, the second-fastest Camaro, behind only Cameron Hill in fifth.

Cam Waters (eighth) and Tim Slade (tenth) were the others to make the Top 10 Shootout.

A racing line had formed from the earlier classes, but the drizzle returned as the 15-minute session began, resulting in a busy track as competitors tried to beat the incoming weather.

Heimgartner was among the early pace setters until Payne set the benchmark at 1:29.6199 mid-session. Wood then slotted into second behind his compatriot and ahead of Hill as the field stopped en masse to prepare for their final runs.

Brown jumped to third with three minutes remaining before a flurry of fast laps saw Bryce Fullwood, then Thomas Randle and Slade take turns at the top.

Brown’s next lap was the fastest before the Shell V-Power duo of De Pasquale and Davison went faster. Wood moved back to third, shortly before Payne returned to the top of the time sheets and Mostert split the DJR duo.

Payne’s 1:27.9684 remained the best to give the Kiwi the final run in this afternoon’s Top 10 Shootout.

De Pasquale was one-tenth behind in second, ahead of Mostert, Davison, an impressive Cam Hill, Wood, Brown, Cam Waters, Heimgartner and Slade.

Jaxon Evans qualified 17th, ahead of Richie Stanaway in 23rd.

Defending champion Brodie Kostecki could only manage 15th in his return to the series, one place ahead of Erebus teammate Jack Le Brocq.

The Top 10 Shootout begins at midday before Race 7 at 3.05 pm.

Supercars Race 7 Provisional Grid