Kiwi Matt Payne wins Supercars Christchurch
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New Zealand driver Matt Payne took control over 61 laps for victory at the Christchurch Supercars 440 at the Ruapuna Raceway
From pole position, 23-year-old Payne was in command throughout the race, leading home Kai Allen in the first one-two result for Penrite Racing, with Broc Feeney third.
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"It's really nice to have a quick car, just being able to execute," said Payne, after crossing the line for the final race of the weekend.
"I knew once we had the start, we were going to have a pretty good opportunity to hold onto it."
The safety car came out when Brodie Kostecki and Chaz Mostert were involved in a late tangle of two heavyweights on lap 55.
Kostecki was sent into a big slide across the path of the field at the exit of Turn 3.
However amid a huge dust cloud, Kostecki was somehow not taken out, but he slipped to finish 18th.
That paved the way for Feeney to take out the overall championship lead, and the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy for the driver who scores the most points across the Taupō and Christchurch events.
There was a late-race engine failure on lap 40 was heartbreaking for Kiwi Ryan Wood which put him out of the race.
Earlier in the weekend Kai Allen won race 10, Brodie Kostecki race 11 and Payne the 37 lap race 12.
The inaugural Christchurch event has attracted around 60,000 spectators..
The next event is Tasmania 22-24 May.