Supercars: Van Gisbergen and Stanaway win the Bathurst 1000

Shane van Gisbergen and Richie Stanaway have claimed a dominant Repco Bathurst 1000 victory, and etched their names into history as just the second all New Zealand duo to win the Great Race in its extraordinary history.

Van Gisbergen became the first driver in 15 years to win consecutive Bathurst 1000s, and won his third Great Race in the last four years. Stanaway, who will move into full-time driving in 2024 with Penrite Racing, scored his first Bathurst win.

The New Zealand duo’s victory came on the 60th anniversary of the Great Race at Mount Panorama, and in front of a crowd of 204,069 — the third-biggest Bathurst crowd ever.

The victory marked Triple Eight’s 10th Bathurst win, surpassing Holden Dealer Team/HDT Racing’s tally of nine Bathurst 500/1000 wins.

Van Gisbergen joins an elite group – equalling Dick Johnson with his third win in the Bathurst 1000, becoming just the 12th driver in history to record three or more wins in Mount Panorama’s iconic endurance race.

It was also the first win by an all New Zealander combination since Greg Murphy and Steven Richards won in 1999. Coincidentally, it was also the greatest winning margin since 1999, where Murphy/Richards won by 25.3s.

The record books will show second place went to pole position winners Brodie Kostecki and David Russell in the while Anton De Pasquale and Tony D’Alberto finished third in the Shell Ford Mustang.

As always, the Great Race delivered highs and lows as only it could.

While the Red Bull garage celebrated van Gisbergen and Stanaway’s victory from a starting position of sixth place on the grid, the other side of the garage was filled with tears when Broc Feeney/Jamie Whincup missing out after suffering late heartbreak when gearbox issues ended their race while Feeney was travelling in third position.

Another race favorite, Cam Waters, meanwhile, didn’t reach the midway point of the race after co-driver James Moffat crashed the #6 Monster Energy Mustang at The Dipper.

Others to suffer dramatic damage included Brad Jones Racingms high hope, Andre Heimgartner and Dale Wood and Craig Lowndes and Zane Goddardms wildcard Camaro.

In front of thousands of fans on the famous Mount Panorama podium at race end, van Gisbergen said:

“Amazing. We weren’t the fastest car all week, but we worked on the race car,” van Gisbergen said.

“What a feeling. Richie did a stellar job all day, the team was good, I’m gutted for Broc, Jamie and the #88 boys.

“It’s been tough, thanks to all these fans. I’m really going to miss it, I love this place. I’ll be back.”

The win helped van Gisbergen slash Kostecki’s championship lead to 131 points, with Erebus Motorsport extending its teams’ championship lead to 149 points courtesy of Feeney’s troubles.

There were 16 cars on the lead lap after six hours, seven minutes and 7.5s.

2023 Bathurst 1000 Race Results