A rain-affected Bathurst 1000 has seen a stunning and dramatic finish with Penrite Racing’s Matt Payne and Garth Tander winning in their Ford Mustang after starting the day just 18th on the grid.
In a remarkable finale, PremiAir Racing’s James Golding actually crossed the finish line first, only to be relegated to third courtesy of a five-second time penalty handed down by race stewards after Golding made contact with race leader, Erebus Motorsport’s Cooper Murray, with five laps remaining at turn two.
“Golding will cross the line first but he’s not going to win this motor race,” Neil Crompton said in commentary for Fox Sports as the drivers crossed the line in a drama-charged end to an epic edition of the 161-lap race.
As mist and cloud enclosed the top of Mount Panorama in the final laps, the race leaders were separated by just seconds as they continually jostled for podium positions with virtually zero visibility in one of the most thrilling Bathurst finales in years.
Earlier on a wet and wild afternoon, reigning champion and pole sitter Brodie Kostecki (Shell V-Power Racing Team) saw his dreams of back-to-back race victories end with a DNF.
Meanwhile, the win was 23-year-old kiwi Matt Payne’s first in the great race and veteran Garth Tander’s sixth Bathurst 1000 title, placing him equal third on the all-time list alongside race legends Mark Skaife and Larry Perkins.
It was Ford’s first win at Bathurst since 2019.
FORD WIN THE REPCO BATHURST 1000 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019!!! #RepcoSC #Supercars #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/troy1jEURi
— Supercars (@supercars) October 12, 2025
2025 Bathurst 1000 Top 5
1
| Matthew Payne Garth Tander Penrite Racing | 6:52:14.938 |
2
| David Reynolds Lee Holdsworth TRADIE Energy | 6:52:15.897 |
3
| James Golding David Russell PremiAir Racing | 6:52:18.977 |
4
| Cooper Murray Jobe Stewart Erebus Motorsport | 6:52:19.635 |
5
| Cameron Hill Cameron McLeod Supaglass Racing | 6:52:22.654 |