Payne Claims Ninth Pole of 2026 Season

Matt Payne topped the Top Ten Shootout at Sandown, while Will Brown failed to progress beyond the first phase of qualifying.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Motorsports

Matt Payne claimed his ninth pole position of the 2026 Supercars season at Sandown after setting the fastest time in Phase 2 with a lap of 1:07.886. Will Brown failed to progress beyond Phase 1 and will start 19th for Sunday's race after finishing 20th on Saturday.

Why it matters

Payne's ninth pole underlines his consistency across the season, while Brown's early exit leaves him with a difficult afternoon. Four of the seven championship finalists reached the Top Ten Shootout, compared with all seven on Saturday.

Payne's Phase 2 lap of 1:07.886 was the fastest of the session, with Kai Allen setting 1:08.174 to top Phase 1. Cam Waters will start from 18th and Chaz Mostert finished 11th in Phase 2 without advancing.

The players

Matt Payne

Matt Payne is a Supercars driver who claimed pole position for the Sandown race.

Will Brown

Will Brown is a Supercars driver who failed to progress beyond Phase 1 of qualifying at Sandown.

The details

Qualifying at Sandown was conducted in three phases, with the top ten advancing to the Top Ten Shootout. Anton De Pasquale finished second in the shootout, while Broc Feeney climbed from 10th to sixth.

Saturday: Brown finished 20th in the race, and all seven championship finalists reached the Top Ten Shootout.
Sunday: Qualifying phases were held and Payne claimed pole for the afternoon race.
Sunday afternoon: The Sandown race is scheduled to run from pole position.

Season Trajectory

Payne's ninth pole of the 2026 season strengthens his position in the championship standings at the midpoint of the calendar. Brown's early qualifying exit adds pressure as the season moves toward its final rounds.

Payne's pole gives him a strong starting position for the Sunday afternoon race at Sandown. Fantasy and betting followers should note that Brown starts from 19th after failing to progress beyond Phase 1.