Bittersweet home-race for Penrite Racing

Penrite Racing finished just shy of a Sandown 500 podium on what was a bittersweet weekend for the team. 

Penrite Racing were able to vault ahead of Dick Johnson Racing, moving into fourth place in the Teams Championship. Matt Payne consolidated fifth in the Drivers Championship, whilst Richie lost some positions by virtue of failing to finish. 

The weekend began with the covers being taken off a stunning retro livery. Penrite Racing, in collaboration with Penrite Oil and Dementia Australia, revealed a one-off tribute livery, celebrating Allan Moffat’s victory in the 1974 event. The Penrite Racing Mustang’s were adorned with the iconic ‘Brut 33’ livery of Moffat’s Falcon XB GT. 

In true Melbourne fashion, weather was a distinct talking point and the threat was ever-present.  

Track action began on Friday, with Car 19 experiencing early teething issues. A power steering issue curtailed running for Car 19, spending an extended period in the garage. 

It wasn’t until Friday afternoon’s Practice Three that Penrite Racing’s indicative pace was on show, Car 26 ending up fourth, with Car 19 making sure both cars sat in the Top Ten a the end of Friday’s proceedings. 

Rain lashed the circuit on Saturday, which caused chaos up and down the field. Richie Stanaway reminded everyone of his wet weather prowess, by topping the times in Saturday morning’s Practice Four. This wet-weather pace was continued in Practice Five, with both cars finishing the session in the Top Three. 

Qualifying for the Sandown 500 looked set to take place in dry conditions, however hail stones began to fall just 5 minutes before the important session as crews scrambled to equip the cars with wet tyres. 

The entirety of the 20-minute session was declared wet, however, track conditions were gradually improving. After a red flag interruption to retrieve a car from the Turn Nine gravel, both Matt and Richie were able to progress to the Top Ten Shootout in third and eighth respectively. 

Despite the track drying, conditions for the Top Ten Shootout were still incredibly treacherous, with puddles yet to clear on the verges of the track. An off for Walkinshaw’s Ryan Wood dirtied the surface, with Payne’s lap impacted slightly.  

Importantly, both Richie and Matt were able to record clean laps, lining up for the Sandown 500 in seventh and ninth respectively.  

Race day for the traditional Bathurst 1000 curtain raiser was abuzz with fan activity, as the drivers enjoyed a warm reception from the parochial Sandown crowd.  

The Sandown 500 began in positive fashion with both cars capitalising on battles up ahead to run line-astern in seventh and eighth.  

However, Car 26 was only able to complete 22 laps, as an engine failure brought an early end to their day. Despite a promising showing throughout the weekend, Stanaway, and Dale Wood were not classified. 

Penrite Racing’s sole assault on the Sandown 500 was in the hands of Car 19, with Matt Payne keeping out of trouble.  

Following the first safety car period to retrieve Car 26, Garth Tander jumped into Car 19. Ever the professional, Garth carved his way through the top 10. Following a moment for Lee Holdsworth in front of him, Garth had moved his way up to fourth, ultimately handing the Number 19 Penrite Racing Mustang back to Matt Payne in third position. 

The final portion of the race was headlined by multiple safety car and full course yellow periods, with Car 19 a genuine threat to deliver some silverware.  

The race was neuteralised with 20 laps to go as Kostecki’s Camaro stopped on the back straight. Payne entered the pits for fresh tyres, before exiting in sixth. Payne was racy on the restart, muscling past Le Brocq at Turn 4. By virtue of contact, Le Brocq was stuck in the barriers, causing another stoppage in the race. 

With the Sandown 500 restarted once more, with three minutes left on the time-certain clock, Payne was ultimately unable to reel in the Camaro of James Golding. Car 19 would finish just shy of a home-race podium, ending a chaotic Sandown 500 in fourth. 

The Repco Supercars Championship begins the trek to the most revered race on the calendar in a few weeks’ time; the Repco Bathurst 1000.