The race was decided by a 15-lap shootout to the chequered flag, led by Erebus Motorsport’s Cooper Murray, PremiAir Racing’s James Golding, and Grove Racing’s Matt Payne.

Golding fluffed the restart, going deep at Hell Corner. That gifted Payne second place, who set about chasing Murray.

With nine laps to go, Payne got to Murray’s rear quarter-panel and slipped down the inside at Forrest’s Elbow.

They ran side-by-side to The Chase and through the kink. Awkwardly positioned, Payne hit the grass and blew the corner completely, touring the grass instead.

That left Murray to fend off Golding, and as they battled, Payne was brought back into the picture.

The pivotal moment came with six laps to go. Golding got a good run on Murray out of Hell Corner and tried to pass into Griffins Bend, but slid into the side of the leading Camaro.

That tipped Murray sideways and Payne slipped up the inside of a slow Golding to take the lead.

Golding was hit with a five-second penalty for the hit, which took them out of contention for the win.

Murray, meanwhile, dropped to fourth behind a hard-charging David Reynolds.

Despite the penalty, Payne fought hard to keep Golding at bay, which brought Reynolds into the picture.

In an enthralling close, Golding got by Payne at The Cutting. A split second later, Reynolds tried to go around the outside of Payne, who shut the door.

That was the decisive move, ultimatley enough for Payne to secure the win. Reynolds was second with Lee Holdsworth and Golding third with Lee Holdsworth.

Murray and Stewart narrowly missed out on the podium, finishing just 0.6s behind GOolding and Russell after the penalty was applied.

FORD WIN THE REPCO BATHURST 1000 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019!!! #RepcoSC #Supercars #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/troy1jEURi

— Supercars (@supercars) October 12, 2025

The 161-lapper was dramatic from start to finish.

When the lights went out, Brad Vaughan failed to move off the line with a driveshaft issue for the #14 Brad Jones Racing Camaro he shared with Bryce Fullwood.

The first stanza was dominated by Triple Eight Race Engineering, Dick Johnson Racing, and Tickford Racing. Whincup led Pye while Kostecki was third after the second round of pit stops. Murray ran fourth while Ojeda was in the mix in fifth.

In the pit stops, engine gremlins began to creep in. First, the #25 Walkinshaw Andretti United Mustang began to groan and haemorrhaged time to the leaders. Almost simultaneously, the #10 Matt Stone Racing Camaro was brought to the pits on Lap 51 after it dropped a cylinder.

Car #17 makes contact with the inside and outside wall at Forrest’s Elbow 💥

The bp pulse Safety Car is out for the first time in the Great Race!#RepcoSC #Supercars #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/c5YqtJwY3W

— Supercars (@supercars) October 12, 2025

Then, on Lap 55, drama struck. Tony D’Alberto clipped the inside wall at Forrest’s Elbow and spat into the outside wall. So violent was the contact that an upright was plucked out the #17 Mustang, which was run over by one of the Grove Racing Mustangs.

After a brief Safety Car, the race resumed on Lap 57, albeit, only for a few moments. Mostert’s #2 Mustang finally cried no more and he parked up at The Chase, yet again bringing out the Safety Car.

The long-awaited rain finally made its mark on Lap 65 as the cars tip-toed up The Mountain. Moments later, drama struck when Cameron McLeod in the #10 Camaro got spun the #62 Camaro of Nash Morris at The Cutting.

MOSTERT’S ENGINE DIES ON THE RESTART 🤯#RepcoSC #Supercars #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/yo1MIa3pMu

— Supercars (@supercars) October 12, 2025

On Lap 65, Brodie Kostecki ran off the road at The Chase and gave the lead away to Waters, triggering an epic sequence. The duo jokeyed over the lead, ducking and weaving down the straight before Kostecki went around the outside of Waters at The Cutting.

They ran side-by-side to the top of The Mountain, but Waters prevailed. While all that was happening, Holdsworth got to third.

After being tipped into a spin, Morris triggered the Safety Car when he ran off the road at Murray’s Corner and buried his #62 Camaro in the gravel on Lap 67.

More pit stops continued, Holdsworth leading first through 12th to the lane. What followed was a bizarre sequence as Waters pitted and traded places with Winterbottom and shod the #6 Mustang with wets before returning a lap later for slicks.

DRAMA FOR THE #6 😱#RepcoSC #Supercars #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/79DjwksStl

— Supercars (@supercars) October 12, 2025

On the restart, Whincup led the field ahead of Russell, Tander, James Moffat, and surprise packet Zak Best. However, as the race went green, Whincup ducked for the pits again with Holdsworth in tow, handing Russell the lead, Tander second, and Moffat third.

Tickford Racing’s decision to put slicks on the #6 Mustang proved costly. Winterbottom went off at Forrest’s Elbow and nose-dived the tyre wall. Damage forced Winterbottom to pit, losing a lap to the leaders for repairs.

With 80 laps down and 81 laps to go, Russell led Ojeda by more than five seconds. Third was Best, despite the earlier wall whack at Griffins Bend. Tander dropped back to fourth just ahead of Le Brocq’s co-driver Jarrod Hughes. The top 10 was rounded out by Jobe Stewart, Jack Perkins, Hazelwood, Moffat, and Pye.

There were nervous moments for Whincup when he locked up entering Griffins Bend and used all the run-off available. Not long after that, Hazelwood shortcut the chicane at Skyline. Rylan Gray struggled in the wet, going off at Hell Corner and then Murray’s Corner.

Ojeda was one of the quickest drivers in the wet, and that gap to race leader Russell was just a few car lengths by Lap 84, passing for the lead at The Chase. Moments later, Russell lost second to Best. On Lap 87, Best pitted out of second to hand the reins to Cameron.

Ojeda pitted from the lead on Lap 96 with a 20 seconds lead over Hazelwood and Pye. Whincup, meanwhile, stayed on track, pitting one lap later. The top three made driver changes, including a battery swap for the #38 Mustang, which put Kostecki into a large pack of cars.

KOSTECKI SLAMS INTO ALLEN 💥#RepcoSC #Supercars #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/XrPsY3SE9J

— Supercars (@supercars) October 12, 2025

It proved costly. As he tried to navigate the other cars, Kostecki locked up under brakes and drilled the back of the #26 Mustang. Both Kostecki and Allen took to the run-off. Kostecki dropped to 15th and Allen to 13th. For the hit, Kostecki was given a drive-through, pitting from 15th to serve the penalty.

On Lap 108, De Pasquale’s race came undone when he whacked the wall at the Esses and caused catastrophic damage to the left side suspension.

Kostecki’s day went from bad to worse when he threw the #38 Mustang off the road at The Chase trying to pass the #7 Mustang of Courtney. Eventually, on Lap 114, Kostecki pitted and parked the #38 Mustang to bleed the clutch and change the battery.

On Lap 109, Zach Bates threatened to bring out the Safety Car when he stopped at Murray’s Corner. Despite dropping his nose in the gravel trap, Bates was able to rescue his car and reverse out of the grass. On Lap 110, Bates did the same again, albeit, stopping short of the gravel in the second instance.

Just a lap after pitting, Brown locked up at Hell Corner and stopped in the gravel. Fortunately, he was able to back out and only lost a few positions. However, worse was to come.

Once the next round of pit stops shook out, Wood led to the tune of 14 seconds over Feeney. The slightly off-strategy Golding was third, just a few car lengths behind Feeney.

Third became second for Golding when the #88 went wide at Murray’s corner with 39 laps to go. Payne was a further three seconds afield while Cameron trailed by 22 seconds. Brown’s off at Hell Corner cost him dearly, 41 seconds back of the lead.

With 38 laps to go, the unthinkable happened. Feeney buried car #88 in the tyre bundle at Forrest’s Elbow and watched the field fly by. The Safety Car was drawn, and Wood’s lead of 10 seconds vanished.

FEENEY IN THE WALL 😱

The bp pulse Safety Car has been called!!!#RepcoSC #Supercars #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/BrRIFRWhSZ

— Supercars (@supercars) October 12, 2025

Wood led the field to green with 34 laps to go, heading Golding, Payne, Cameron, and Brown.

In a devastating blow, Courtney pitted out of seventh with a transaxle issue, which took he and Blanchard Racing Team co-driver Perkins out of contention.

With 33 laps to go, Golding got to Wood’s inside at The Cutting and committed to the pass. Wood tried to return serve, but Golding shut the door.

On the same lap, Jaxon Evans lost control of the #12 Brad Jones Racing Camaro and backed it into the wall at Sulman Park. Despite significant damage and debris on the track, the race remained green.

Brown fumbled a pass on Allen at The Chase and sent the #26 Grove Racing Mustang off the road. Just seconds later, Allen copped another whack from Le Brocq at Murray’s corner. In just a few seconds, Allen plummeted from sixth to 11th. Brown pitted after the clash, and for it was given a five-second penalty.

Once Golding got to the lead, he blitzed Wood and put five seconds on the #2 Mustang with 30 laps to go. On the same lap, Brown dumped himself out of contention. Entering Griffins Bend, he locked up and whacked the tyre wall. With 29 laps remaining, the Safety Car was called.

BROWN LOSES HIS BONNET AND WING 🤯#RepcoSC #Supercars #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/C5oloCR0ZI

— Supercars (@supercars) October 12, 2025

Golding headed to the pits, followed by Wood and third through 11th. The PremiAir Racign driver Golding led the WAU star to the green flag with 25 laps to go, followed by Payne, Reynolds, Murray, and Andre Heimgartner.

On the restart, Golding went deep into Hell Corner, allowing Wood through for the lead.

The drama continued. With 24 laps to go, Jones copped a hit from Richie Stanaway, which sent the #96 Brad Jones Racing Camaro into the wall. A post-race investigation was subsequently launched.

At the same time, Wood went off at The Chase on his own, allowing Golding through. But there would be worse to come. In a cruel twist, the #2 Mustang suddenly slowed behind the Safety Car, forcing Wood to limp back to the pit lane with a suspected engine issue.

Heartbreaking 💔#RepcoSC #Supercars #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/U9PiRCg5nY

— Supercars (@supercars) October 12, 2025

Racing resumed with 21 laps to go, this time with Golding ahead of Payne and a hard-charging Murray.

Murray got the best jump and usurped Golding before Hell Corner. He stretched his legs for a few laps before Stanaway crashed on his own at The Cutting and brought another Safety Car out with 18 laps to go.

ANOTHER CHAOTIC RESTART 😱#RepcoSC #Supercars #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/ve8DJZChUh

— Supercars (@supercars) October 12, 2025

With 15 to go, Murray took the green flag with Golding and Payne in tow. Golding fluffed the restart going deep at Hell Corner and gifting Payne second place.

What followed was an epic battle as Payne hunted down Murray and slipped down the inside at Forrest’s Elbow. With the side draft, Payne looked like he might have the speed to pass Murray, but got into the grass at the kink and speared off the road.

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE 🤯#RepcoSC #Supercars #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/AOOR9jUSLv

— Supercars (@supercars) October 12, 2025

Murray retained his lead with Golding second and Payne a distant third. Fortunately for Payne, the top two drivers wound up battling over the lead and brought the Kiwi back into contention.

With six to go, the decisive moment came. Golding tipped Murray into a half-spin at Griffins Bend and Payne slipped through.

CONTACT CONTACT CONTACT 💥

MATT PAYNE TAKES THE LEAD!!!!!#RepcoSC #Supercars #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/hF1B2dreQu

— Supercars (@supercars) October 12, 2025

Golding had the pace to match Payne, but a five-second penalty ultimately ended any hope the PremiAir Racing driver had of a win.

The fight nearly cost Payne, however. Reynolds surged forward and put in a bid to take the effective lead but had the door closed on him by Payne.

All told, Payne claimed victory over Reynolds and Golding.

Results: Repco Supercars Championship Repco Bathurst 1000