In a dramatic Bathurst 1000 Matt Payne has risen to the top. Along with his co-driver and fellow Aussie Garth Tander, they earned their first racing win video game era together in a race filled with turmoil and craziness. The scene on a soaked course though, as the race became a battle for traction and speed. With fierce rival ties and explosive crashes, fans were hanging on every nail-biting moment.
With just 24 laps to go, things heated up fast and it made for an exciting finish that had fans and announcers on their feet. The race was marred by a number of challenges, including views blocked due to destruction and three safety cars. Regardless of all their adversities, Payne and Tander’s crew capitalized on the misfortunes to take the lead for the first time. Their tactical genius and sticktoitiveness were on full display!
Reynolds’ second place finish, at the end of the race, was just an attest to the impressive driving Dave showed during all very difficult and slippery conditions. It wasn’t only the challengers who had a rough time. Will Brown experienced terrible visibility with his bonnet obstructing his view following a crash at Turn 2. Unfortunately for Richie Stanaway his day ended early, crashing into the barrier leaving significant damage that was too severe to repair.
Things got even more heated when Macauley Jones crashed hard into the wall. This controversial instance piled on top of the already-charged mood of the conference. It was the seventh safety car of the day for the Bathurst 1000. …Which emphasizes how crazy the race is!
With just two dozen laps remaining, seven unique teams filled the top seven spots—a reflection of the close racing that has characterized this series from its start. James Golding was the first person to finish in a sworn-in spot. After being awarded a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits during braking in Turn 1, he was eventually demoted to third. Golding’s actions accidentally tagged Cooper Murray, sending him into a spin without hitting any walls.
“What else can happen in this race today?! This is extraordinary,” – Mark Skaife
The surprising outcome of the race did not fail to draw major reactions from commentators. Mark Skaife captured the essence of the day’s events by stating, “You cannot believe how wild this is now, folks,” while expressing concern over track conditions: “These cars are out of control, there’s rivers of water, there’s standing water, there’s fences on either side of the road.” He added that “those painted lines and those curbs are like ice,” underlining the treacherous situation faced by drivers.
As the closing laps drew near, tension brewed among fans and announcers across America. Skaife exclaimed, “We’ve got 24 laps to go and this race has gone berserk.”
In the end, it was Matt Payne emerging victorious at only 23 years of age, the biggest victory so far in his burgeoning racing career. By the time Tander crossed the line first, it was the sixth Bathurst 1000 win for him, cementing his place among motorsport’s biggest legends.
“This is high-level stuff, what a motor race,” – Mark Skaife
