Matt Payne emphatically secured the Jason Richards Trophy by securing the third and final race at Taupo.
The Penrite Racing driver led the standings heading into the final race of the weekend and confirmed the result by securing victory in the longer event after a daring pass on Cam Hill to head the field until the chequered flag.
Even more impressive, Payne did it from sixth on the grid as he took advantage of plenty of drama in front highlighted by a torrid battle for the lead between his New Zealand compatriot Ryan Wood and Brodie Kostecki.
It was an equal getaway by pole sitter Kostecki and Dewalt Racing’s Anton De Pasquale, but the ladder speared wide on the outside of the track dropping to seventh.
There was further action later in the lap when Wood made a play for the lead on Kostecki, but ran the Shell V-Power Racing Team Mustang wide, which delayed both and allowed Hill, Payne and Thomas Randle through.
Payne was patient until lap 8 and made an aggressive pass for the lead on Hill, which proved successful as the Penrite Racing Mustang spat out dirt. Randle was also able to take advantage and slid into second.
Eight laps later, Hill was the first of the leaders to pit and Payne responded the very next circuit to prevent the undercut.
Red Bull Ampol Racing was in recovery mode following its poor qualifying session as it elected to pit Will Brown early, but this cost the reigning champion as his stint wore on.
Payne maintained the effective lead after a slow stop from Hill, Brown and a Randle, but the Monster Castrol Racing Mustang was on the comeback after dropping position in the pit shuffle.
It was an expert performance from Payne during the second stint, but was the latest to stop following the next pit sequence as he returned to the lead from Hill, a recovering Kostecki and Randle.
After 61 laps, Payne took a 3s win from Hill and a flying Chaz Mostert following an electric final stint in the Mobil 1 Optus Racing Mustang.
Mostert pitted later and was able to charge through to the final podium slot demoting Kostecki first, then Randle.
Andre Heimgartner was unable to replicate his Sunday heroics from last year to finish sixth in the R&J Batteries Racing Camaro as he held off Broc Feeney after a charge from 20th as he led teammate Brown.
Will Davison added another top 10 for the Shell V-Power Racing Team in ninth as James Golding finished where he started behind.
After being penalised 5s for his opening lap duel, Wood was 11th ahead of title contender Cam Waters.
Team 18 endured a tough run as De Pasquale fell to 16th, a position ahead of teammate David Reynolds.
Brown leads the standings by 34-points from Waters as Payne rises to third heading to Symmons Plains for the next round of the Repco Supercars Championship on May 9-11.