A fine line between pleasure and Payne as Kiwi wins Bathurst epic
PremiAir Camaro driver James Golding actually crossed the finish line ahead of Payne, but a five-second penalty meant he was relegated to third.
This was Ford’s first win at Bathurst since 2019.
David Reynolds and Lee Holdsworth finished second (6:52:15.897) in the Tradie Energy Camaro, with Golding (6:52:18.977) taking the final spot on the podium.
On a day of carnage, series leader Broc Feeney, defending champion Brodie Kostecki and two-time Bathurst winner Chaz Mostert faced setbacks to finish the races.
Golding held the lead for several laps, as did Kiwi Ryan Wood, whose Walkinshaw-Andretti Ford was eyeing victory before it broke down with 22 laps to go.
Todd Hazelwood, who was on pole for Sunday’s Bathurst 1000 race, heads into the first corner.Credit: Getty Images
Payne briefly went off the track with nine laps remaining but regained control and took advantage of his lucky reprieve.
Commentators likened the race to the infamous 1992 race, which was canceled 18 laps early after race officials determined that heavy rain made it too dangerous to continue.
After a bright and sunny start to Sunday, it started raining about halfway through the race and the 6.213 kilometer track suddenly turned into an ice skating rink.
The rain caused logistical problems for pit crews, particularly regarding whether and when to switch from slick tires to wet-weather tires, leaving drivers with little margin for error.
It soon started to get ugly.
Feeney parked the front end of his Red Bull-Ampol Camaro under a sponsor sign at Forrest’s Elbow and needed a tow truck to untie it. He eventually finished sixth.
“Unfortunately, he was pushing the cold tires too much,” team boss Jamie Whincup said of Feeney. “This is very easy to do.”
Reigning series champion Will Brown crashed his Red Bull Camaro into a concrete barrier and somehow made it back to the pits with his dislodged hood hanging off the windshield.
Will Davidson parked his Shell V-Power Ford on the fence at Forrest’s Elbow.
Cam McLeod, in the Supaglass Chevrolet, turned to find himself facing the wall. He was lucky he didn’t cause too many cars to get mixed up.
Tony D’Alberto’s Mustang is heading towards the panel winners.Credit: Getty Images
Defending champion Kostecki then swerved, allowing Cam Waters to pass him and take the lead.
Kostecki’s hopes of defending his Bathurst 1000 crown were dashed by a double failure more than halfway through the big race.
His Dick Johnson Racing Mustang had a problem with the alternator and was slowly losing voltage. To add to his woes, he rear-ended Penrite’s Kai Allen on lap 99, damaging both cars and receiving a time penalty. He limped home on the 18th.
DJR’s other car, driven by Tony D’Alberto, cleared the wall at Forrest’s Elbow and soon joined a lorry, heading towards the panel beaters.
Meanwhile, Tickford Racing carried out rudimentary running repairs on Mark Winterbottom’s car, removing the dented front panel that had scratched the front right wheel using a reciprocating saw. The extended pit stop caused the popular veteran to slide down the field, but at least he was still in the game.
Chaz Mostert needed a beer when his Mustang broke down in the middle of the race.Credit: Getty Images
Two-time Bathurst champion Chaz Mostert and Fabian Coulthard retired from the race on lap 57 after struggling with engine failure.
As he walked towards the pitlane, a fan offered him a beer, which Mostert broke without hesitation to drown his sorrows.
Anton De Pasquale’s De Walt Camaro also lurched back to the finish line after hitting a concrete barrier.
Supercheap Autos Camaro driver Zach Bates found himself in the cat litter twice within two laps of each other, but managed to keep going each time.
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