Motorsport Recap: Victories at Bathurst 1000 & Petit Le Mans

October 15, 2025

In a weekend packed with drama, grit, and glory, Matthew Payne etched his name into Bathurst 1000 history with a stunning wet-weather victory alongside veteran Garth Tander, while Hunter McElrea and Earl Bamber dominated at Petit Le Mans to close out the IMSA season in style.

Matthew Payne claimed a stunning victory at the 2025 Bathurst 1000 alongside co-driver Garth Tander, marking a historic moment for Penrite Racing and Ford. Starting from 18th on the grid, the duo navigated treacherous, rain-soaked conditions and multiple safety car interruptions to emerge victorious in a dramatic final-lap showdown. Payne capitalised on a late-race incident between Cooper Murray and James Golding, with Golding receiving a five-second penalty that handed Payne the win. “It’s absolutely insane, that last stint in the wet when I got back in the car it felt like forever… I saw Jimmy get into the side of Cooper and I kind of predicted that was going to happen, and just managed to get through. I felt like I ran out of tyres a bit at the end, but a win’s a win, we'll take it”. The result also marked Tander’s sixth Bathurst triumph, placing him among the race’s all-time greats.

Hunter McElrea capped off an impressive 2025 IMSA season by winning the LMP2 class at Petit Le Mans, driving the No. 11 TDS Racing ORECA 07—alongside Steven Thomas and Mikkel Jensen. The trio dominated their class, securing their second consecutive victory at Road Atlanta and clinching the Michelin Endurance Cup in a tight tiebreaker over Inter Europol Competition. Their victory not only underscored McElrea’s endurance racing prowess but also sealed his contribution to TDS Racing’s championship triumph in the LMP2 category.

Earl Bamber secured a remarkable victory at the 2025 Petit Le Mans, teaming with Jack Aitken and Frederik Vesti in the No. 31 Whelen Action Express Cadillac V-Series.R. The trio dominated the ten-hour endurance race, leading a race-high 217 laps, including the final 189, to close out the IMSA season with back-to-back wins. Despite a mid-race right-rear puncture under safety car conditions, Bamber orchestrated a stunning comeback, slicing through traffic and reclaiming the lead by the six-hour mark. The team withstood late-race pressure, edging out the Aston Martin Valkyrie by just over five seconds at the finish. Bamber remarked, “Any one of us could have done it… it shows the strength of the team,” a fitting tribute to their performance.

Ryan Wood’s Bathurst 1000 race was a mix of promise and heartbreak. After qualifying third with a confident Top 10 Shootout performance, Wood led the race in wet conditions thanks to bold strategy and strong driving. However, with 25 laps to go, an engine sensor issue ended his hopes of victory. Despite the setback, the team got the car back on track to secure a finals berth. Wood reflected, “Really guttered… but that’s motorsport. We are in the finals, we will bounce back.”

André Heimgartner showed strong pace at the 2025 Bathurst 1000, climbing twelve spots and running inside the top ten. He was on track for a Finals berth until a late slide at The Chase allowed Broc Feeney to pass, leaving Heimgartner just short of qualifying. “I guess what could have been … Pretty devastated. … Up to third at one point, just didn’t do tyres in the stop. … but pretty pissed off when you couldn’t execute it.” André reflected.

Shane van Gisbergen showcased impressive oval progress at the Las Vegas Cup Series race, qualifying 13th in the #88 Trackhouse Chevy and running inside the top 15 through both stages (12th in Stage 1, 11th in Stage 3). A bold two-tire pit call boosted him to sixth for the late restart, but with 23 laps remaining, a multi-car collision triggered by Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs enveloped SVG, ending his day in a spin and securing a 33rd-place finish. Reflecting on the outcome, he said, “Frustrating end to the day… Wish our result would’ve shown the race we had. Proud of my 88 team for bringing another rocket ship.”

Ryan Yardley delivered a strong showing at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, qualifying fourth. In Race 1, he overcame a 10-second penalty to remain a competitive force. In Race 2, Yardley secured a resilient podium finish, crossing the line third and keeping himself firmly in the championship hunt ahead of the season-ending rounds. His consistent performances underscore his determination as the title race tightens heading into COTA.