Shane Van Gisbergen wins 2022 Bathurst 1000 after chaotic eight safety car madness
Shane Van Gisbergen has sent Holden out perfectly in the brand's final Bathurst 1000 in a thrilling and chaotic race.
Shane Van Gisbergen has sent Holden out a winner at Bathurst, surviving absolute carnage on the mountain to claim the famous race victory.
The weekend had been marked by chaos across the weekend after storms on Saturday resulted in the Top 10 shootout being cancelled for the first time in history and it was no different on race day.
But it was Van Gisbergen and his teammate Garth Tander who claimed the top step on the podium in a race that doubles as the final time Australia will see a Holden Commodore racing in the Bathurst 1000 with the Aussie classic getting replaced by the GM Camaro next year.
Watch every Practice, Qualifying & Race of the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship Live & Ad-Break Free During Racing on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
The wet track wreaked havoc early after the race was yellow flagged seconds after starting when a five-wide collision ended up sent two cars sliding across the track, completing 720 degree spins.
The extraordinary start to the race resulted in multiple cars needing to return to the pits after Jack Perkins and Jamie Whincup were sent spinning out of control on Mountain Straight.
"They have made it 10 seconds into the race before we had trauma," commentator Neil Crompton said.
“This is going to be one of the storylines of the day. The minute you are off the asphalt here there will be absolutely in grip. For Jack Perkins, what a disaster."
A few laps later, Zane Goddard caused a huge incident as he attempted to rejoin the race track after coming off at The Cutting.
His move was out of control as he skidded over dirt and he went sliding across the track into the path of Dale Wood.
Wood's Commodore took heavy side-on contact and was forced into the wall at high speed.
It meant four cars were out of the race inside the first 10 laps.
It didn't get much better as within the first 60 laps, there were six safety cars deployed as the track began to dry and become more favourable for a classic finish.
Around the 100th lap of the race, the true extent of the carnage was revealed with only four cars remaining unscathed as most of the cars were held together by duct tape.
"Seriously, tell me you've ever seen that," Mark Larkham said.
But despite copping an early five second penalty, now-two time mountain conqueror Van Gisbergen and five-time Bathurst champion Tander ensured they were in the the right position to come home strong.
Even with safety cars late in the race which meant it was 15 lap sprint to the finish, Van Gisbergen and Tander reigned supreme, ahead of Chaz Mostert and Fabian Coulthard in second and Cam Waters and James Moffat in third.
"Shane van Gisbergen might do something special here this afternoon," Neil Crompton said in commentary late in the race. "He is 33 years of age. He made his debut in V8 Supercar racing back at in 2007.
"He has been supreme for most of the recent years. His balance, his fight, his passion for the sport is unrivalled. He has done an unbelievable job today under pressure. Over the top of the hill now for the last time."
Van Gisbergen then did the traditional donut, celebrating the famous win in style.
Shane van Gisbergen wins Holden’s FINAL RACE at Mount Panorama 🔴ðŸ¦
— 7Sport (@7Sport) October 9, 2022
He WINS the Repco Bathurst 1000! ðŸ†#7Motorsport | #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/DmDOXiHl4X
"I just want to go do another skid, that was sick," Van Gisbergen said.
"I can't thank the team enough. Garth was just on it this year. It was very cool.
"Andrew [Edwards, engineer] this year has been epic, just every round getting more and more part of the team and doing such a great job.
"Now he's won the most ever races in a season as an engineer. It's pretty sick."
Van Gisbergen is 33 points short of wrapping up the Supercars Championship as well.
It was also his 19th win of the season, a record for the Championship.
Tander, who claimed his fifth title, was in disbelief.
"I don't really know what to say, to be honest," Tander said.
"Yeah, no words, right now. I can't really believe it. The guys did such a great job.
"Shane at the end of the race, how he can do that, just his focus and ability to punch out laps like that, seriously impressive to watch. Such an honour to be a part of this.
"Like you said, the last Commodore ever here at Bathurst, that'll sink in a little bit later I think. Can't believe it."
A fitting Mountain farewell for Holden ðŸ¦@shanevg97 and @GarthTander are the 2022 Repco Bathurst 1000 winners! #RepcoSC #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/dv8oRFfpxA
— Supercars (@supercars) October 9, 2022
Holden wins Bathurst!!!! Day made!!!! pic.twitter.com/grqmQPmun9
— Troy Cassar-Daley (@troycassardaley) October 9, 2022
"Great victory! Bloody well done Shane and @GarthTander SVG JUST ROASTING THE BAGS!! Beautiful stuff," Gold 104.3 drive show host Dave "Higgo" Higgins tweeted.
You can read everything you need to know about the great race here.
Join the conversation
Clean sweep: Waters the driver to beat after wet and wild win
Cam Waters has produced a stellar opening round clean sweep on a wet and wild Sydney track, claiming all three race wins to stamp himself as the driver to watch this season.
Read more
Driver fined, relegated to last after embarrassing teammate crash
Teammates Aaron Love and James Courtney were involved in a bizarre collision at the start of Supercars qualifying which left their team principal fuming.
Read more
Waters blitz converts qualifying pace to first win of the season
Tickford Racing star Cam Waters has fired the season-opening salvo for Ford after he converted his blistering qualifying pace to blitz the first race of the Supercars season.
Read more