{"id":370269,"date":"2026-04-08T23:24:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T23:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/370269\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T23:24:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T23:24:13","slug":"supercars-news-matt-payne-reacts-to-general-motors-link","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/370269\/","title":{"rendered":"Supercars news: Matt Payne reacts to General Motors link"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Matt
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMatt Payne. Image: Supplied <\/p>\n

The 23-year-old is being linked to a move away from long-time home Grove Racing in favour of Chevrolet and its homologation squad Team 18.<\/p>\n

Payne\u2019s defection has been touted as a matter of when rather than if, with the driver currently under contract to Grove Racing for 2027.<\/a><\/p>\n

Asked about the situation on Wednesday night\u2019s MotorRacing 360, Payne did not exactly shut down the speculation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t really shed too much light on it at the moment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy job at the moment is to go fast in the race car l\u2019m in. That\u2019s the Ford Mustang with Penrite Racing, so that\u2019s what l\u2019m focused on.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a championship to win at the end of the day, so that\u2019s where my thoughts are heading.\u201d<\/p>\n

Win a limited edition 1:18 scale model #8 BJR Camaro. Enter Now. <\/a><\/p>\n

Payne was signed by Grove to its junior program in 2021 while racing in Carrera Cup Australia.<\/p>\n

The team funded 18 months of Super2 racing for the talent before he graduated to the Supercars Championship in 2023.<\/p>\n

Grove is eager to receive the full return on that investment, which has already yielded seven race wins including last year\u2019s Bathurst 1000.<\/p>\n

General Motors is meanwhile looking to bolster its ranks following the defection of Triple Eight to Ford this season.<\/p>\n

Team 18 is believed to want Payne to slide in alongside Anton De Pasquale, replacing out of contract veteran David Reynolds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A rumoured offer from Team 18\/GM would make Payne one of the richest drivers in the sport and could also lead to opportunities overseas.<\/p>\n

Payne is in the spotlight ahead of Supercars\u2019 first double-header in New Zealand, starting this weekend at Taupo before an inaugural visit to Ruapuna.<\/p>\n

The star last year won the Jason Richards Trophy, which in 2026 will be awarded to the driver who scores the most points across the two events.<\/p>\n


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