By Dan McCarthy
Release date: September 27, 2021
Matthew Payne, the hot favorite for the place vacated by Andre Heimgartner at Kelly Grove Racing, will do his first test in a supercar at Winton Motor Raceway today.
The 18-year-old New Zealander will jump behind the wheel of one of Kelly Grove’s Nissan Altima Super2 machines, officially operated by Kelly Racing in the Supercars Championship.
Grove Racing Junior is looking forward to the day ahead because his dream has always been to drive a supercar.
“I can’t wait to drive this car in Winton today,” said Payne.
“It has always been my dream to race in supercars, so today is the first opportunity to see what it is like.”
Kelly Grove Racing co-owner and former Super2 rider Brenton Grove is with Payne on Evaluation Day and mentoring his role on the Grove Junior Team.
“I can’t thank Stephen and Brenton Grove enough for this evaluation day, but for giving me the opportunity to join the new Grove Junior Team,” said Payne.
“It’s a very exciting time and I look forward to rewarding your trust in me.”
The evaluation day in Winton is part of the Grove Junior Team’s investment in the future of young racers.
With the plan to offer them opportunities and ways to move up from karting to supercars.
In his first season of auto racing, Payne won the highly regarded Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand.
He has since moved to Australia and is competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Series, where he finished sixth in the overall standings after winning a race in Townsville.
The Kiwi will spend the day working with the team and covering miles on the 3-mile route in the land of Victoria.
AUTO ACTION expects Payne to contest the remainder of the second-rate Super2 season in the Nissan Altima and hopes these miles will enable him to be rewarded with a super license to race in the Supercars Championship next year.
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