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How to tune into Sport NationPayne/Tander claims thrilling Bathurst win in the rain
Nicholas Quinlan •  October 12th, 2025 10:54 pm
For the first time since 2019, a Ford car has managed to take the top spot on the podium at the Bathurst 1000.
In what proved to be a gruelling rain-affected race that took six hours and 52 minutes to complete, the combination of Matt Payne and Garth Tander in the Ford Mustang for Penrite Racing/Grove Racing managed to go from 18th on the grid to then claiming the Peter Brock Trophy.
But they weren't the only team that managed to make the podium from the back half of the grid.
David Reynolds and Lee Holdsworth (TRADIE Energy Racing/Team 18), who finished 2nd, started the race from 15th, while the 3rd-placed duo of James Golding and David Russell (PremiAir Racing) began the race from 13th.
But despite Payne and Tander lifting the Peter Brock Trophy, they did not claim the chequered flag.
That honour belonged to Golding.
But he incurred a five-second penalty with five laps to go after making contact with Cooper Murray (Erebus Motorsport), who was the race leader at Griffins Bend (Turn 2), which resulted in Murray being pushed into the wall and Golding wide of the apex which Payne capitalised on.
Golding did manage to hit the front at the start of the final lap but the penalty was too much to overcome.
It proved to be a tough race for many of the favourites who struggled in the slippery conditions out on track.
For instance, pole sitters and last year’s Bathurst champions Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood finished in 18th after Kostecki smashed into the back of Penrite Racing’s Kai Allen on the start/finish straight at lap 97, which all but ended his hopes of defending his title.
Cam Waters and Mark Winterbottom (started in 2nd) also had their trouble with Winterbottom making contact at Forrest's Elbow.
While for fan favourite Chaz Mostert and co-driver Fabian Coulthard who were 3rd on the grid, their race finished on lap 58 with Mostert being forced to pull up on the Conrod Straight after an engine failure.
But Mostert made the most of his predicament.
For the 48-year-old Tander, who has been competing at Bathurst since 1998, this is now his sixth win around Mount Panorama, which sees him tied for third with Mark Skaife and Larry Perkins on the all-time win list.
While for Payne, his Bathurst win has allowed him to close the gap on championship leader Broc Feeney, who finished in 6th with Jamie Whincup.
Speaking just before the podium celebrations, the 23-year-old from New Zealand couldn’t believe the result, considering that with nine laps to go, he was on the grass after going wide at the Chase (Turn 21), which saw him lose his second place to Golding.
"It's absolutely insane,"Â he declared.
The Supercars season will now enter its finals series, which will begin with the Gold Coast 500 on October 24.
SEN will have live coverage of the main race on October 26, which can be found through the SEN app and its radio network.
