Matt Payne wins hectic Wanneroo Raceway opener

Matt Payne won a hectic first Supercars Championship race of the weekend at Wanneroo Raceway, despite getting beaten off the line by Cameron Waters.

The Grove Racing driver started from pole but was beaten into Turn 1 by Waters.

There was a switch behind the leading pair as well as Toyota driver Ryan Wood got the jump on Thomas Randle up into third place before the first corner.

Payne was quick to reel Waters back in and made a move for the lead heading into the final corner at the end of lap five.

Walkinshaw TWG Racing driver Wood sensed an opportunity as the lead changed hands, getting squeezed onto the grass after passing Waters and trying to snatch the lead from Payne.

Payne managed to stay ahead but received a warning for the contact with Wood who settled in second place behind.

Disaster struck Dick Johnson Racing driver Brodie Kostecki who ended up in the gravel on lap 39 after a fight with Kai Allen.

The safety car was called into action as Kostecki managed to rejoin the field to finish 24th and last while Allen rejoined to finish the race in sixth.

The race resumed with six laps left and Randle lost three places to finish the race in ninth after being passed by Waters, Andre Heimgartner and Broc Feeney.

Payne managed to pull up a gap to win the race by three seconds over Wood and secure the manufacturers’ title for Ford.

Anton De Pasquale brought his Chevrolet Camaro to the final podium position, having started the race from ninth place on the grid.

Waters finished fourth ahead of Toyota driver Chaz Mostert and Allen. Feeney finished seventh for Triple Eight while Heimgartner rounded off the top eight.

The second race of the weekend starts at 16:20 local time/10:20 CEST.