Penrite Racing looking to send off Season 2024 in style.
Penrite Racing are looking to end the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship on a high at this weekend’s VAILO Adelaide 500.
The team will be looking to recapture their form from the 2023 event, which saw the team notch consecutive podium finishes, before Matt Payne claimed his first career Repco Supercars Championship race win in the final race of the season.
Off the back of a consistent Gold Coast 500, Penrite Racing were able to reclaim fourth in the Teams Championship, holding a 144-point advantage over fifth-placed Dick Johnson Racing. For Penrite Racing, it is imperative to maintain that fourth place position this weekend in order to maximise their pit location at the beginning of next season.
Matt Payne returns to the scene of his first career main game victory sitting in fifth in the Drivers Championship. Payne, in his sophomore season in the main game will be looking to consolidate a top five finish and enter the off-season with renewed confidence for Season 2025.
Richie Stanaway enters his final event with the team sitting in 16th in the Drivers Championship. Replicating his strong form at the Gold Coast which netted consecutive top ten finishes, and a provisional pole position will go a long way to vaulting Richie up the order.
Celebrating the event’s 25th anniversary, the Adelaide parklands location is known for its intense heat and action which will be sure to test the mettle of drivers and pit crew alike. With temperatures looking to reach the mid-30s on Saturday, there is no doubt that the team’s resilience will be put to the test.
The most notable hotspot around the circuit is the notorious Turn 8. A fast and treacherous right hander splitting up the back straight, Turn 8 has claimed its fair share of high-profile victims throughout the year, with drivers needing to approach with caution, yet full commitment in order to maximise lap time.
Adelaide is a unique event in that it is run over four days, an occurrence usually reserved for Albert Park and Bathurst.
Thursday plays host to a single practice session with drivers aiming to acclimatise to the circuit. Friday is inherently important, with a twilight qualifying session paving the way for drivers to hopefully advance to the Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout.
Saturday begins with a morning practice session, before the Top Ten runners from the preceding evening’s qualifying session go to battle in the Shootout. Saturday is expected to be the largest test for competitors, with the temperature expected to reach 35 degrees before a late change cools down Sunday’s running. Saturday is bookended by the first of two 78 lap, 250km races.
Sunday’s season finale begins with qualifying just after midday. Once again, the top ten runners progress to that afternoon’s Top Ten Shootout. The 2024 Repco Supercars Championship then rounds out with another 78 lap race, as the sun sets on Season 2024.
On Wednesday night, fans will be treated to the ever-popular track to town, with all 24 Supercars making their way through the Adelaide streets to the Victoria Square SuperFest. Fans are also encouraged to consult the Penrite Racing social media channels to see where and when they can meet Matt and Richie for the last time this season.
Supercars will be supported by the Dunlop Series, Tyrepower V8 SuperUte Series, Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, TRICO TransAM, and the Boost Mobile Super Trucks. The Adelaide 500 will also play host to nightly sprintcar action, with a cricket oval inside the precinct reconfigured to accomodate this action.
The Adelaide 500 will be broadcast on Foxtel, Kayo, and the Seven Network, with Penrite Racing fans encouraged to follow along for updates and exclusive behind the scenes access on the Penrite Racing social media channels.