Working the night shift; Penrite Racing looking to add to trophy tally in Sydney

Fresh off the back off the team’s first win of Season 2024, Penrite Racing arrives in Sydney with added confidence for the weekend ahead. The Panasonic Air Conditioning Sydney SuperNight is the only iteration of night racing on this year’s calendar, posing a different challenge compared to a regular race weekend. 

Following the Townsville triumph, Penrite Racing maintain position four in the Teams Championship. Matt Payne was able to vault up to postion five in the Drivers Championship, closing the gap, and mounting pressure on the leaders. Richie Stanaway sits in 12th after a difficult Townsville outing, but given the incredibly tight nature of the Championship, one result can easily move Richie up into the Top 10. 

Sydney Motorsport Park’s night racing has become a key feature on the Supercars calendar, this Saturday’s iteration being the 10th time the Sydney venue has hosted a race under lights. Night racing at Sydney Motorsport Park made its debut in 1996, before returning during the 2018 event. After a one-year break from the calendar, the Supercars Championship returned in the COVID-impacted 2020 season for back-to-back race weekends, before hosting a historic quadruple-header of consecutive rounds in 2021. 

The 2023 event proved difficult for the Penrite Racing squad, with Matt Payne and David Reynolds unable to register a top-20 result. Learnings from last year’s event will be imperative for success this weekend. 

Round 7 of the Repco Supercars Championship will feature a single 90-minute Practice session on Friday evening. Saturday will feature a 15-minute Qualifying session, with Richie and Matt hoping to progress to that afternoon’s Top Ten Shootout. Race 15 of the Repco Supercars Championship will take place under lights, with a 51-lap race going green at 7:35PM (AEST). 

Sunday’s action will take place earlier in the day, with another 15-minute Qualifying session preceding a second Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout. Race 16 will once again be run over 51 laps, starting at 4:05PM. 

Penrite Racing fans will be able to meet Matt and Richie at a range of signing sessions throughout the weekend. On Thursday night, Parramatta’s Centenary Square will play host to an hour-long signing session as part of the ‘SuperFest’ activation, from 5:30PM to 6:30PM. 

Merchandise Alley will host all Supercars drivers on Friday (2:30PM – 3:00PM), and Saturday (1:20PM – 1:50PM), with Richie and Matt visiting the Penrite Racing store on Sunday from 10:30AM – 10:50AM. Merchandise Alley is located behind the main grandstand on the pit straight. 

Joining the Repco Supercars Championship will be the Paynter Dixon Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, V8 Superute Series, Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia GR Cup, Touring Car Masters, and National Sports Sedan Series. 

The Paynter Dixon Porsche Carrera Cup Australia will play extra significance for Grove Racing with Stephen Grove making his return to the series, and Penrite Racing Endurance Race co-driver, Garth Tander also joining the series for the Sydney race weekend. 

Fans can catch all the action live on Fox Sports and Kayo and are encouraged to stay tuned to the Penrite Racing website and social media channels for exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes coverage of the Panasonic Air Conditioning Sydney SuperNight.