Supercars: Van Gisbergen and Tander win Bathurst 1000

Shane van Gisbergen has joined some of the greatest drivers in history in the record books, and sent Holden out as Bathurst Champions, after fending off a late charge from defending Champion Chaz Mostert to win the 2022 Repco Bathurst 1000.

Van Gisbergen has become the 22^nd driver in history to have won the Great Race more than once, after he and now five-time winner Garth Tander combined to win their second Great Race in three years.

The duo first won the race together in 2020.

It was a record-equalling ninth Bathurst win for the pair’s Triple Eight team, and third victory in five years.

Van Gisbergen’s emotional win, was No. 19 of 2022, breaking fellow kiwi Scott McLaughlin’s 2019 record for the best single-season win record.

Mostert tried with everything he had to run down van Gisbergen late but just could not find a way through, so he settled for second alongside Fabian Coulthard.

Pole sitter Waters, who finished second in 2020 and 2021 was third alongside co-driver James Moffat.

The race will go down with one of the most chaotic starts in history. The 161-lap classic featured eight BP Ultimate Safety Cars, five coming in the first 57 laps.

With Waters third, van Gisbergen was unable to clinch the 2022 championship at Mount Panorama.

With a 567-point lead, the Red Bull Ampol Racing driver is now within reach of the Championship the title at Surfers Paradise.

Van Gisbergen’s second Bathurst win and Tander’s fifth was also the 36th for Holden.

It ensured Holden won its final Great Race, with the Chevrolet Camaro replacing the Commodore in 2023.

“It was awesome,” van Gisbergen said.

“Compared to 2020, to have all the people here, and in this weather, thank you guys so much.

“To send Holden out like this is epic… up the Holden!

“It’s a special way to send it out.

“Hopefully we can add a few more wins to the Commodore.”

The #97 led at halfway with Tander behind the wheel. Tander opened up a 12-second gap on David Russell, with Jamie Whincup third ahead of a charging Mostert.

Tander handed over to van Gisbergen on lap 100, with Russell swapping with Brodie Kostecki.

Kostecki and Mostert tussled for second position late in the race and in the end in a key moment in the race.

As the recovery vehicle was on its way around to retrieve Will Davison’s Mustang, Mostert raced Kostecki’s Boost Mobile Commodore to the control line.

Kostecki then became jammed behind the Recovery Vehicle and a passing Mostert which allowed the defending Champ one last effort to run down van Gisbergen.

Soon after Cam Waters also caught Kostecki and it became a van Gisbergen/Mostert/Waters shootout for victory with 14 laps remaining.

As he did in 2020, van Gisbergen pressed on and clocked the fastest lap of the race on lap 150.

He went even faster on lap 151, but it only motivated Mostert to apply pressure of his own.

The two Holden drivers went punch for punch, but a lap 154 slide at Hell Corner all but ended Mostert’s charge.

Waters fell behind, but Mostert tried desperately to stay with van Gisbergen.

On lap 158, van Gisbergen locked a wheel at Forrest’s Elbow, and the margin dropped to 0.7s

Try as he might, Mostert was unable to overhaul van Gisbergen, who crossed the line with a 1.09s margin.

Kostecki and Russell, who finished third in 2021, came home fourth ahead of Feeney/Whincup.

Holdsworth/Matt Payne finished sixth ahead of De Pasquale/D’Alberto.

Lowndes/Declan Fraser were eighth ahead of Bryce Fullwood/Dean Fiore, with Brown/Perkins 10th.

Race Results