NEW Zealand’s grip over the Repco Supercars Championship isn’t going anywhere, insists young gun Matt Payne.
Each of the past five titles have gone the way of Kiwis: Scott McLaughlin (2018-20) and Shane van Gisbergen (2021-22).
Andre Heimgartner has become an increasingly regular podium contender, and Payne himself is one of the sport’s hottest talents – another of which is compatriot Ryan Wood, who has won the past two Super2 races.
Also in the Dunlop Series is Matthew McCutcheon, while Porsche Carrera Cup and Sprint Challenge counts the likes of Callum Hedge, Marco Giltrap and Ronan Murphy as race winners in its ranks.
There’s even more to come in the pipeline, according to Payne.
“I don’t know, maybe it’s in the tracks in New Zealand,” Payne told V8 Sleuth of the never-ending Kiwi surge.
“There’s definitely something there that sort of just brings us alive and gives us the drive to want to be better.
“I think it’s important for us Kiwis, we come from a small country and we’re always looking to do our best and there’s always new up-and-coming drivers from there.
“The karting scene is pretty strong and it’s getting stronger so I can only imagine in five years or so there’s going to be five Kiwis in the Dunlop Series, I hope, or the Carrera Cup series or whatever.
“It’s always getting better and stronger and I like to do everything I can to help younger drivers because it wasn’t that long ago that I was there, so I understand what they’re dealing with; it’s hard.
“It’s awesome to see though, it’s really cool.”
Kiwis also continue to shine on the world stage, with Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber both on the outright podium at Le Mans on Sunday.
Payne’s rookie main game season continues this weekend at the Darwin Triple Crown, where he and Grove Racing teammate David Reynolds will sport Indigenous Round liveries.
