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5:35 PM Sun 9 October, 2011
Source: BigPond Sport
TOLL Holden Racing Team's Garth Tander and Nick Percat have won the 2011 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in a thrilling last lap duel with TeamVodafone's Craig Lowndes.
Tander held off a hard-charging Lowndes to take the win by just 0.29 seconds, with pole sitter Greg Murphy in third.
The all-Holden podium was made even sweeter for the red lion as it marked the Holden Racing Team's 200th all-time race win.
23 year-old Percat also enters the history books - becoming the first driver to win Bathurst on his debut in over 30 years.
Today's Bathurst 1000 win is Garth Tander's third, and his 50th career race win.
"We've had a fast car all week and Nick did an awesome job," said Tander.
"There was a lot of pressure and a lot of people saying he didn't have enough experience but I had absolute faith in him and he did a great job for us.
"He made one small mistake all day but I made a couple as well so I think we're square!"
"I made a small mistake at the Chase with about three or four to go and it cost me, which in the end made it a bit closer than we would have liked.
"Lowndesy had really good straight line speed so I knew I had to get out of Forrest's Elbow really well and make sure I could get down Conrod and block at the Chase and block at the final corner."
Ford Performance Racing's Mark Winterbottom was the highest placed Ford driver in fourth, with Jason Bright, Shane van Gisbergen, James Courtney, Russell Ingall, Tony D'Alberto and Michael Caruso rounding out the top ten.
TeamVodafone's Jamie Whincup and Andrew Thompson were one of the hard luck stories of the race, with alternator problems dropping them out of contention late in the race.
Four cars did not finish the race - Bundaberg Racing's Fabian Coulthard and Craig Baird were the first to DNF on lap 12 after contact with a slowing Jason Bright.
The #77 Shannon Mars Commodore of Grant Denyer and Cameron Waters was not classified as a finisher after contact with the wall at Forrest's Elbow.
David Besnard escaped unhurt from undoubtedly the scariest moment of this year's race. He crashed at turn 2 and the impact burst the #17 Jim Beam Racing Falcon into flames. Marshals were quick on the scene to douse the flames.
Paul Dumbrell was also a late retiree from the race.
Lowndes and Mark Skaife's runner up finish has given Lowndes a 100-point lead in the Championship over teammate Jamie Whincup.
