The Kiwi trio of Matthew Payne, Ryan Wood, and Andre Heimgartner had to work hard for every place in a chaotic Race 5 at Albert Park.
Following yesterday’s race, Walkinshaw TWG Racing elected to make a precautionary engine change on Wood’s #2 Supra.
It was a good launch from pole for Matthew Payne, who had multiple car lengths of breathing room into the first corner. It was also a good start for Wood who managed to hold position in third.
Will Brown escorted Cooper Murray into the gravel trap into turn 11 after over-committing under brakes trying to make a move. In an intense battle pack towards the rear of the field, Andre Heimgartner had moved up to fifteenth by lap 3. Brown was rewarded with a fifteen second time penalty for his efforts on Murray.
By lap four, Kostecki had closed up to the rear of Payne and made the move on him into turn 11. This allowed Wood to close in and become a part of the battle pack for the win.
Chaz Mostert got caught up in an incident at Turn 11 and suffered front wheel damage. On lap 11, Broc Feeney made a big move on Aaron Cameron heading onto the final straight which slowed them both. In a move reminiscent of last year’s incident between Waters and Payne, an opportunistic Kai Allen tried to capitalise, but got into the side of Cameron, which turned them both.
In his chase for Toyota’s first podium, Wood had a big off-track excursion into turn 9 and took the grass across turn 10. He was able to hold on to third position with 7 laps to go. While chaos ensued ahead, Heimgartner kept his head down to move into thirteenth.
Cameron’s mare weekend continued as he came into the lane with smoke pouring into the cabin and out of the car, but he was able to get going again after a lap in the lane. At the front, Payne kept Kostecki within an arm’s length, with the gap sitting at seven tenths.
While Brown backed up the pack with some heavy defending, Heimgartner was able to capitalise on the drama to move up into seventh place to be the highest placed Brad Jones Racing car.
The gap between Kostecki and Payne had closed to five and a half tenths with three laps to go. Although the gap got down to three tenths with two laps to go, Payne wasn’t able to get the move made. Kostecki was able to take his second win of the weekend, even though he did not have it easy.
Wood crossed the line in a comfortable third to take the GR Supra’s first podium in the series. After a thrilling charge through the field, Heimgartner was able to come home in ninth place.
Supercars are back on track tomorrow (7th March) at 11:00am NZST for Race 6 and 7 qualifying.
