The roar of V8 engines gave way to the drumming of rain as the 2025 Bathurst 1000 was red-flagged just after 2pm local time. Torrential downpours swept across Mount Panorama, turning the famed Conrod Straight into a river and reducing visibility to near zero. Cars were instructed to return to pit lane under safety car conditions before officials halted the race entirely. At the time of the stoppage, Shane van Gisbergen and Richie Stanaway led in the #97 Triple Eight Holden, having survived a chaotic opening stint marked by near-misses and sliding exits at The Chase.
This is not the first weather-related disruption in Bathurst history but it’s the most severe in over a decade. With more rain forecast through the evening, Supercars officials are evaluating whether to resume racing later today or declare the event complete under the 75% distance rule. Fans huddled under awnings, many wrapped in team-branded ponchos, watched anxiously as puddles pooled over the start-finish line.
Before the skies opened, the race had already delivered its trademark blend of speed and suspense. On lap 12, a multi-car incident at Griffins Bend sent two cars spinning into the gravel, bringing out the first safety car. Broc Feeney clipped the inside wall at Reid Park while defending position, while Anton De Pasquale lost control under braking, collecting a wildcard entry from Brad Jones Racing. Neither driver was injured, but both were eliminated.
Van Gisbergen, chasing his fourth Bathurst crown, showed masterful wet-weather control in the early drizzle, pulling a 4.2-second gap over Will Brown and Chaz Mostert in second. But as the rain intensified past lap 30, even the most seasoned drivers struggled. Jamie Whincup, now in a team management role, was seen on pit wall radio urging caution: “It’s not worth losing it for a position right now.”
The Bathurst 1000 is more than a race it’s a pilgrimage. Thousands had camped along the mountain for days, flying flags from every Australian state and even international contingents from New Zealand and the UK. Now, many face the prospect of an anticlimactic end. “We drove 12 hours from Adelaide,” said one fan, rain dripping off his cap. “Just want to see them cross the line properly.”
Teams are preparing for every scenario. If racing resumes, they’ll need to switch to full wet tires and recalibrate strategies. If not, the race result will be declared based on the last completed lap before the red flag lap 38. Under current standings, that would hand victory to van Gisbergen and Stanaway, though officials stress no decision has been made.
Even if the race ends under red flag, the spirit of Bathurst remains unbroken. Mechanics share hot coffee in soaked overalls. Volunteers sweep water from garages. And fans, though disappointed, chant “Let’s Go SVG!” in unison from the hill. This event has always been as much about community as competition a truth etched into every rain-slicked guardrail and weathered grandstand seat.
Officials say a final decision on race resumption will come by 5pm local time. Until then, Mount Panorama holds its breath not for speed, but for clarity.
Bathurst does not yield to schedules or expectations. It rewards courage, punishes arrogance, and answers only to the elements. Whether the cars return or not, the legend grows not from who wins, but how they face the storm. Some Races Are Won On Track—Others In The Patience To Wait It Out.
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