Symmons Plains, Tasmania, May 11, 2025 – The Ford Mustang runners continue to have a strong showing in the new Supercars’ Sprint Cup despite mixed results at the Tasmania Super 440.
Ford drivers hold six of the top ten spots in the overall points standings after three Mustang drivers took podium places at Symmons Plains, capped off by a stellar drive by Matthew Payne on Sunday that combined a bold strategy with flawless driving to secure victory.
The win keeps him in third spot in the Sprint Cup battle.
“That was a pretty cool race,” said Payne.
“So good to win here because we’ve struggled so much.”
The Super 440 format included two sprints over 50 laps on Saturday, and a longer 78-lap contest on Sunday. Despite Payne’s win being a silver lining, throughout the entire trip to Tasmania for the fourth leg of the 2025 series the Mustang runners faced mixed results.
Cam Waters and his Tickford Racing team-mate Thomas Randle were the most consistent, with Randle even giving up a place in a bid to help Waters chase down the leaders on fresher tyres.
The Tickford pair were the only other Mustang podium finishers, coming home second and third in the opening race that Randle started from pole, following it up with a third for Waters in the second Saturday battle.
The weekend also produced a Ford Mustang sweep in the Super2 series, as rising stars Rylan Gray, Reuben Goodall and Nash Morris filled all the podium places for the round overall with Tickford Racing.
The 2025 Supercars Championship continues with the Perth Super 440 in Western Australia from June 6-8.
Top Ford Race Results
Race 1
Qualifying:
Thomas Randle – 1st
Cam Waters – 3rd
Brodie Kostecki – 5th
Ryan Wood – 8th
James Courtney – 9th
Race:
Thomas Randle – 2nd
Cam Waters – 4th
Ryan Wood – 6th
James Courtney – 9th
Race 2
Qualifying:
Thomas Randle – 2nd
Cam Waters – 8th
Race:
Cam Waters – 3rd
Thomas Randle – 4th
Matt Payne – 7th
Race 3:
Qualifying:
Ryan Wood – 2nd
Cam Waters – 3rd
Thomas Randle - 8th
Race:
Matt Payne – 1st
Ryan Wood – 7th
Team Owner/Principal Quotes
Rod Nash, Tickford Racing
- “Lots of Mustangs up the front in our stable. Solid work by Cam Waters and Thomas Randle, and a 1-2-3 sweep for the Super2 weekend.
- “It’s tough out there and bloody competitive. We’d still like to be further forward but at this point in the championship we’re looking to bag points.
- “That’s our motto in the team. And we want to hold that line and keep doing it. Our drivers are like wingmen for each other.
- “The Super2 result was fantastic. In 28 years in motorsport I’ve never had a 1-2-3 lockout of the podium so I thought I would take full advantage and copped a massive champagne spray.”
Carl Faux, Walkinshaw Andretti United
- “Ryan Wood showed us what could do now that he knows how to handle the tyres. It was two Top 10 shootouts in a row, and he’s now lost the nickname ‘jigsaw’ because he used to fall to pieces.
- “There is something niggling on Chaz Mostert’s car, which was a bit painful. But we tried something for later in the year and he was really happy with it. We’ve unlocked something that will be great for upcoming rounds.”
David Noble, Dick Johnson Racing
- “A very challenging weekend, but in sport the progression is never linear.
- “At certain times through the weekend we had some genuinely good car speed. That was positive and very encouraging.
- “Now we have head back and pull things apart in the debrief ahead of Perth. I don’t think it’s complicated. There is no need to over-complicate a review from the weekend. It just didn’t go our way, so we need to be diligent, re-set, and go again."
David Cauchi, Grove Racing
- “A great job by the team this weekend. The win by Matt Payne was exceptional and that’s what you need to do to stay in the championship hunt.
- “It was down to a superbly executed strategy by the engineers, pitstop crew and driver. They have shown they can be world class.
- “Kai Allen has been qualifying quite well but things are not falling his way in racing. That will turn soon.
- “Perth wasn’t great for us last year, but now we’re excited to go back and see what we can deliver.
Tim Blanchard, Blanchard Racing
- “What a turnaround from where we were three weeks ago in New Zealand. It was a much better weekend.
- “We leaned into our relationship with WAU a lot more than in the past and that helped. It was a smoother weekend, and the results showed it.
- “James Courtney was pretty excited to get some results on the board, to get his elbows out and race properly with a few people.”
Ford Driver Championship Standigs
3. Matt Payne, 819 points
4. Cam Waters, 803
5. Chaz Mostert, 644
6. Thomas Randle, 610
7. Brodie Kostecki, 596
10. Ryan Wood, 539
14. Will Davison, 441
19. Kai Allen, 344
21. James Courtney, 333
24. Aaron Cameron, 157
