New radio sheds light on controversial Bathurst flashpoints

Newly-released radio messages have shed further light on the deciding moments of the 2025 Repco Bathurst 1000, with clashes and a penalty adding fuel to an already dramatic fire.

The final hour of the Great Race saw Ryan Wood ruled out of contention, Matt Payne slide off the road at The Chase, James Golding tip Cooper Murray into a spin, and Payne close down on David Reynolds.

All battles were for the race lead, with Payne initially dropping to third at The Chase before recovering to second when Golding and Murray collided. That led to a penalty for Golding, with Payne reclassified as the winner.

Even then, Payne had to deny a racy Reynolds on the final lap, the Team 18 driver going around the outside at The Cutting, where Payne cut him off.

Speaking after the race, opinions were split, Murray insisting the Golding move wasn’t on, and that he deserved a heavier penalty. PremiAir Racing boss Peter Xiberras, meanwhile, claimed Murray turned in on Golding.

Despite their respective frustration, Murray and Golding embraced in the paddock after the latter completed media commitments. The debate continues to rage on, though, former champions Brodie Kostecki and Will Brown also questioning the penalty.

Three-time Bathurst champion Shane van Gisbergen, meanwhile, told Rusty's Garage: “I’m pretty pissed off for Jimmy... I thought his pass was good and pretty unfair he got the five-second penalty. I thought Cooper just turned down, whether he was unaware or he was trying to protect position, I’m not sure, but I’m very gutted for James. I don’t think that should have been a penalty.”

Payne's bold move on Murray on lap 153 saw the Penrite Ford sail off onto the grass. However, in a teaser of what was to come, engineer Jack Bell insisted: “Mate I loved that move, absolutely loved it. Let’s go get them. Still time.”

Four laps later, Golding went down the inside at Griffins Bend, only to collide with Murray. The Erebus Motorsport driver saved sliding into a full spin, but dropped from first to fourth.

Engineer Wayne Mackie tried to calm Murray on the run home, saying: “Yep, you’re all okay.”

In response, Murray fired up: “What a f***wit.”

Mackie replied: “Yeah, calm down. Still got a podium out there. Keep going.”

On the PremiAir side of the fence, Golding was curt: “Moved under brakes.”

In response, engineer Simon Hodge asked: “Okay mate, you’re confident he moved under brakes?”

Golding replied: “He just turned in early.”

Stewards advised Golding had been handed a five-second penalty, which Driving Standards Advisor Craig Baird later explained was consistent with previous penalties.

Mackie informed Murray of the penalty, maintaining focus given a podium was still up for grabs: “Golding has a five second penalty, Golding has a five second penalty, we’re 4.6 seconds behind.”

Murray, though, was furious: “Five seconds, you serious?”

Mackie added: “Calm down, let’s just go get that, just get that podium.”

Golding caught back up to Payne as the final lap neared, with Reynolds right behind. There was tension over whether Payne would let Golding go, given the PremiAir Chevrolet's pace advantage.

However, Penrite Racing waited until the latest possible moment to cede position, Bell saying: “All good to let him go mate, you’re all good to let him go. Our race is with Reynolds, our race is with Reynolds.”

That proved to be the case, as Reynolds tried in vain to displace Payne at The Cutting. It frustrated Reynolds, who told engineer Richard Hollway: “He just cut me off.”

The experienced Hollway replied: “Yeah we saw it mate, we saw it. Good going bud, you’re doing awesome.”

Clear in the lead, Golding had only one lap to find five seconds. “Is this the last lap?” he asked Hodge, who replied: “It’s the last lap mate. This is the last lap. Finish the lap, finish the lap. We are half a second on the podium.”

It wasn't enough to keep victory, but Golding still had 0.6s in hand over an emotionally charged Murray to claim third. Reynolds quickly praised his team's efforts, and post-race, had no bad blood with former teammate Payne.

Payne will race for a championship in the Repco Supercars Finals Series, which commences at this weekend's Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500. Tickets on sale now.