Rain reshapes the Bathurst 1000 at the halfway mark
The 2025 Repco Bathurst 1000 has yielded a dramatic twist in the race’ s narrative as persistent rain arrived at Mount Panorama, turning the track into a slippery chessboard. The Golding/Russell Camaro seized the lead at the halfway point, rewriting expectations as teams gambled on strategy and grip. With the conditions changing second by second, several title contenders were forced to pull into the pits or retire, and the order was scrambled in a frantic second quarter that will be remembered for its bold moves and sharp calls.
Early shifts and a standout stoush for the lead
In a fashion reminiscent of Bathurst battles past, the race’s lead swapped hands in a series of aggressive, high-stakes stints. The Feeney/Whincup Camaro initially surged into the front, with Feeney showing speed in the damp second stint and distancing from Hazelwood. But as the track cooled and the tires found their rhythm, Brown surged forward to reel in Hazelwood, delivering Triple Eight a 1-2 moment on lap 41. Behind them, Wood carved through traffic and pulled a bold manoeuvre into The Cutting, slipping ahead of Stewart and intensifying the fight at the front.
Strategic calls and a developing gap
As the race wore on, pit strategy began to tilt the balance. Feeney’s lead extended to 12.7 seconds after Brown pitted on lap 46, but the pit lane was mutinous with activity as Randle and Hill also entered for service, the former incurring a five-second penalty from an earlier contact with Le Brocq. The leader handed the car to Whincup on lap 47, while Wood’s teammate Ojeda took over, setting up an intriguing phase for the top ten as the field juggled grip and fuel strategy.
Safety cars and a changing order
The incident list grew, with Kostecki returning to the lead before a catastrophic moment at Forrest’s Elbow on lap 55. Tony D’Alberto clipped the inside wall and struck the outside wall, triggering the first Safety Car of the day. What followed reshaped the field: Kostecki led a reconfigured top ten through the restart, but the weather-driven chaos continued as Mostert’s car needed help and required a tow, prompting a second safety period.
Two relays, one extraordinary duel
When racing resumed under the Safety Car, the damp surface and slicks forced teams to make bold calls. Kostecki briefly led Osh/Waters, but the rain intensified as the field struggled to locate grip. Waters then surged to the front on the restart, setting the scene for one of Mount Panorama’s most memorable battles. The Ford duo — Waters and Kostecki — traded blows in a remarkable duel for the lead, with Waters applying pressure on Pit Straight and Kostecki replying with a spectacular pass around The Cutting. The cutthroat action continued as the pair tangled through Reid Park, Kostecki’s wheels lighting up as he kept the lead under immense pressure.
Late-race drama and a pivotal gamble
The on-track drama extended beyond the lead as Pye suffered a flat left-front tyre in his in-lap, which shuffled the order yet again. A rough spell for Nash Morris, who was spun by Cameron McLeod at The Cutting and then beached the PremiAir Camaro at Murray’s Corner, brought out the third Safety Car and halted several charges in their tracks. Tickford attempted a bold gamble on the #6, sending Waters out and Winterbottom back in to try slicks. The strategy shift briefly paid dividends before late-race penalties and setbacks dropped teams off the lead lap, illustrating just how quickly the scale could tilt in Mount Panorama’s treacherous, rain-soaked conditions.
What this means for the race going forward
With the halfway stage delivered under duress, the leaderboard now looks markedly different from the pre-race forecast. Golding and Russell have shown the pace and nerve required to survive Bathurst in rain, but the race is far from decided. The next phase will demand calm judgment under pressure, precise pit work, and the ability to extract the maximum performance from choices around tyre compounds and fuel. Fans can expect more unpredictable turns as the weather continues to influence grip, strategy, and momentum on Mount Panorama.
Race outlook
As the sun struggles to break through the low cloud, the field remains tightly packed. The halfway twist has elevated new contenders and left a clear message: conditions at Bathurst demand adaptability, and the race is far from over. The next-quarter chapter will likely feature more one-on-one duels, more bold lines at The Cutting, and potentially more safety-car drama before the chequered flag finally falls.
