MOTORSPORT: The Giz and Tander win epic Bathurst 1000

Shane van Gisbergen and Garth Tander have combined to win the Repco Bathurst 1000, with the Red Bull Ampol Racing squad sending Holden out on a winning note.

For van Gisbergen, his second Bathurst crown comes a week after he claimed a WRC2 podium on debut in New Zealand, while for Tander, the success was his fifth in the event over the past 22 years.

“It still hasn’t sunk in,” said van Gisbergen.

“To compare our win in 2020, it’s another farewell to Holden, but to have the fans here this time and share it with them is extra-special.

“This week especially, I learnt a lot about how much the Holden brand means to so many people and to represent it like we do, it’s a privilege to add to the tally of Holden wins.

“I think Adelaide is going to be a massive farewell for the brand because it’s the home of Holden, so hopefully we can have a good finish there as well. But today was epic.”

With Saturday’s Top 10 Shootout washed out, the starting order reverted to the Friday qualifying results, which saw the Monster Ford Mustang of Cam Waters and James Moffat start from pole position.

The race commenced in sensational circumstances as a mid-pack multi-car accident on the run up Mountain Straight on lap one damaged several cars, with the Castrol Mustang of Zak Best retiring on the spot.

The safety car didn’t stay off the circuit for long, with another pile-up occurring on lap four, courtesy of the Snowy River Caravans Mustang of Zane Goddard touring The Chase outfield before rejoining broadside across the track.

Dale Wood (R&J Batteries Commodore) and Matt Campbell (Penrite Mustang) were collected in the melee.

The Kurt and Jake Kostecki Tradie Mustang bunkered itself at the pit entry under the safety car, while the same vehicle shortly afterwards became bogged at The Chase.

Alex Davison, meanwhile, clouted the barrier at the same corner in the Shell V-Power Racing Mustang he shared with brother Will, with the safety car entering the circuit once more.

The race then settled into a rhythm until Todd Hazelwood planted his Truck Assist Holden Commodore in the Griffins Bend wall on the 118th circuit of 161.

Jack Smith, meanwhile, crunched the wall at the Jack Hinxman Vista, but he was able to limp his SCT Logistics Commodore back to the pits, where it subsequently caught on fire.

With 20 laps remaining, Will Davison wound up wedged in the Griffins Bend tyre barrier, ending a long streak of Bathurst finishes dating back to 2011, with the accident bringing out the final safety car and a glut of pit stops.

In the run home, Mostert pursued van Gisbergen hard, but to no avail, with the final margin of victory an even second, with Mostert’s co-driver Fabian Coulthard earning his second Bathurst podium finish.

Waters picked off Brodie Kostecki/David Russell (Boost Mobile Commodore) late in the running to claim the bottom step of the podium, with the car recovering after co-driver Moffat was spun earlier in the race at The Cutting.

Broc Feeney brought home the second Red Bull Ampol Racing Commodore in fifth after Jamie Whincup qualified the car, from Lee Holdsworth/Matt Payne (Penrite Mustang), then Anton De Pasquale/Tony D’Alberto, who were somewhat anonymous in their Shell V-Power Mustang.

Craig Lowndes and Declan Fraser registered the best-ever finish by a wildcard entry with eighth aboard their Supercheap Auto-backed Commodore, with Bryce Fullwood/Dean Fiore (Middy’s Commodore) and Will Brown/Jack Perkins (Boost Mobile Commodore) 10th, after being sent to the garage after the first lap melee.

With only two events remaining, and 600 points left to be won, van Gisbergen holds a 567-point advantage in the standings over Waters.

The next stop on the Repco Supercars Championship calendar is the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, slated for the streets of Surfers Paradise from October 28 to 30.

2022 Repco Bathurst 1000 Results – 161 laps

Championship points:

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