Payne Sets Sights on Historic Title Defense

Kiwi racer Matt Payne seeks back to back Jason Richards Memorial Trophy wins as New Zealand hosts Supercars events in both Taupo and Christchurch for the first time.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 10, 2026, 4:59 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Honoring a Legend through the Jason Richards Trophy

The Jason Richards Memorial Trophy was established in 2013 to honor the memory of the legendary Kiwi driver who passed away in 2011. It is awarded to the competitor who amasses the highest point total across all New Zealand based events in a single season. Payne is currently part of an elite group of New Zealanders to have secured the trophy, joining the ranks of Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin. If successful this weekend, he would become only the third driver in the history of the sport to win the accolade more than once, matching the records of van Gisbergen and Jamie Whincup.

A New Format for the New Zealand Double Header

The 2026 schedule introduces a significant expansion for regional fans, starting with the Taupo International Motorsport Park event before moving to Ruapuna Raceway in Christchurch the following week. The Taupo round features a three race format, consisting of two 120km sprints on Saturday followed by a grueling 200km finale on Sunday. To increase community engagement, all 24 drivers participated in a "Track to Town" parade on Thursday, driving their high performance vehicles from the circuit into the heart of the Taupo lakeside resort.

Home Turf Advantage and Local Contenders

While Payne enters as the favorite following his Bathurst 1000 victory last October, he faces stiff competition from fellow New Zealanders. Ryan Wood, who secured a podium finish in Taupo last season, and veteran Andre Heimgartner are both expected to be primary challengers for the overall points lead. Payne noted that the presence of home fans provides a significant psychological boost, describing the experience of racing on New Zealand asphalt as a "surreal feeling" that motivates the small cohort of Kiwi drivers in the international series.