MATT Payne has a confession after he and Grove Racing’s bid for back-to-back Bathurst 1000 victories came up short.
That he would have happily accepted a fifth-place result if it had been offered to him pre-race, such was the #19 Penrite Mustang off the pace throughout the 2026 edition of the four-day spectacle.
Bathurst was just the second time all season that Payne qualified outside the top eight.
As it turned out, fifth at the chequered for him and Will Davison came despite two penalties: one for the Kiwi squeezing former teammate David Reynolds off the road down Conrod Straight, and another for a pitstop infringement.
“It’s one that could have been more. Naturally you think about what could have been without the five-second and pitlane penalty but if you said to me at the start of the day we would finish fifth, I would take it,” said Payne.
“On a positive note, the #19 was absolutely unreal all day and Will did a really great job, even amongst the main game field.
“Hopefully we can bring the trophy back home again next year.”
The sister car of Kai Allen and Tim Slade finished 20th after being plagued by brake woes.
“We started off really strong and were the fastest car on track, but then we had a brake issue occur which we battled a lot with for the rest of the race, and sadly ruined our day,” said Allen.
“Still finished and good to get those points but it just didn’t end the way we wanted.
“Finals season now which I’m looking forward to so time to go home, recover and come back swinging at Gold Coast!”