'Sucked': Garth Tander's blunt assessment of watching teammate drive car to Bathurst victory
Updated . First published at
Matt Payne and Garth Tander are the newest hands to hoist the Peter Brock Trophy after an arduous seven hour campaign in the wet at Mount Panorama.
The two were able to bring the victory back home for the Blue Oval for the first time since 2019, with Kiwi Payne picking up his first Bathurst 1000 victory and Tander his sixth.
Talking to Nine's Today on Monday, Tander admitted that sitting in the garage as a co-driver during the final moments "sucked".
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"I've been in that situation a couple of times now, but given the weather the way it was, Matt was doing an amazing job managing what was going on," he said.
Garth Tander co-driver of the #19 Penrite Racing Ford Mustang GT looks on during the 2025 Bathurst 1000. Getty
"There was obviously a lot of battling going on, and then even when Jimmy Golding got that penalty at the end, James was trying to push on to get his track position to get himself onto the podium.
"He [Payne] had to manage that on the last lap as well.
"That was tricky to watch, and when Matt got to the lead with about five or six [laps] to go, our whole garage just erupted and went crazy.
"I was like, 'well, just hang on a minute.' [Bathurst is] such a crazy place that anything can happen, but Matt did an amazing job managing all that."
With just five laps to go, Payne was trailing the back of Cooper Murray and Golding.
He was presented a clear path as Golding clipped the back of the Erebus driver and ruined their races, handing the victory to the Penrite pair.
Payne was able to snatch the Enduro Cup trophy alongside his nail-biting victory and the stage has been set for the inaugural Supercars Finals field.
Broc Feeney ended on top with Payne, Will Brown, Cameron Waters, Brodie Kostecki, Chaz Mostert, Anton De Pasquale, Thomas Randle, Ryan Wood and Kai Allen joining him.
"Yeah, it was very tough," said Payne.
"[Bathurst] is obviously probably one of the hardest tracks to drive, especially in those conditions, so there was a lot of risk involved just in terms of trying to go a little bit faster at some of the corners."
Here's five things you might have missed in the race.
1. Triple Eight's monumentally difficult race
Will Brown hit the wall with vigour that completely pulled off his bonnet. Getty
If you had told Triple Eight that with 20 laps to go in the Bathurst 1000, that their only car on track was the No.888 wildcard drive - they wouldn't have believed you.
But both favourites Feeney and Brown struggled during the race, smashing the wall on separate occasions to bring out late safety cars.
2. Polesitters to DNF
Brodie Kostecki driving the #38 Shell V-Power Racing Ford Mustang GT runs through the sand trap during the 2025 Bathurst 1000. Getty
Todd Hazelwood drove the wheels off the No.38 Ford for the first stint but when Brodie Kostecki jumped into the car, their day went from bad to worse.
Kostecki collided into the back of Kai Allen on his first lap in the rain, gaining a five second penalty, and cut the grass at The Chase twice.
The DJR team was forced to also change the battery in the car during a pit stop, which slowed the team down to be behind the lead lap.
3. The Mountain's first casualty
We had clean racing off the line, although the mid pack was bunched up with some "silly driving" on display.
But the first driver to find the wall in 2025 was Tony D'Alberto on lap 27 at the inside of Forrest's Elbow.
"He has made massive impact. When you thump into a wall at that angle, it's gonna hurt," said Mark Skaife.
Remember that?
4. Chaz and his beer
With his race over prematurely, Chaz Mostert is spotted enjoying a beer with fans trackside. FOX Sports
Mostert is no stranger to a viral moment, but this one might take the cake.
As he parked at Griffin's Bend after his Ford "carked it", Mostert decided to join the throngs of fans at the iconic spot 'Robbo's' on the hill and received a cheeky cold one to wash away the pain.
"That car has officially carked it," said Neil Crompton.
CEO Ryan Walkinshaw didn't think he was going to see his driver for a while.
"Chaz is on the Mountain having a beer with the fans, so I think he may be the happiest he's been this whole weekend," said Walkinshaw.
5. Waters and Kostecki locked in 'unbelievable' battle
After Kostecki's huge slide off at The Chase, he miraculously re-joined in second and performed what could only be called the most intense battle for first with Cam Waters the Mountain has ever seen.
The two were side by side up Mountain Straight and were not giving each other an inch of space, only for Kostecki to respond by passing him at The Cutting.
Then in an epic sequence of racing, Waters came alongside the No.38 driver and the two cars were side by side as they raced around the track, with Waters edging ahead.
"They were in each others door handles," said Neil Crompton.
"Waters just rounded up Kostecki around the outside of Reid Park. That is just unbelievable," said Mark Skaife.
"The first move by Kostecki around the outside at The Cutting and then the return of serve for Waters. This is tremendous driving by these two blokes at the front. It's out of control."
