The 2025 Repco Bathurst 1000 weekend roared into life at Mount Panorama on October 9, 2025, with drama arriving early and refusing to let up. Fans tuning in for the opening Supercars practice session were treated to a flurry of on-track action, technical glitches, and, most notably, a heavy crash involving two-time Bathurst 1000 winner Chaz Mostert. As the sun peeked through over the legendary circuit, anticipation was sky-high, but few could have predicted the twists that would unfold before the day was done.
The first Supercars practice session was already brimming with tension when, at the halfway mark, Mostert’s Ford Mustang slammed into the barriers at turn two. The impact was so severe that it brought out the second red flag of the session, leaving the Walkinshaw Andretti United crew with a daunting repair job ahead of the next session. Despite the violence of the crash, Mostert climbed from the car unharmed, though his frustration was clear.
Reflecting on the incident, Mostert didn’t mince words. “Had a small lock, I just felt like I skated,” he explained when asked about the crash. “Obviously in that situation, you keep going down the gears, you’re trying to watch out for the front speed as possible, but the front...even on the pump or the brake, just would not release. I don’t know if I just found one random crack of water in a line or something like that. I feel totally fine. I haven’t really had probably a decent crash in a Gen3 car yet, and I’ve seen some rough ones, so I was bracing for it. But no, the car did its job and the wall up there did its job. Hopefully we’ll get a car back and assess it. And unfortunately, it’s a lot of work for the team that we probably don’t necessarily need for this part of the weekend, but before then, [the car] was reasonably speedy.”
Mostert’s crash wasn’t the only interruption to the morning’s proceedings. The session had already been halted for over eight minutes due to a bizarre timing screen failure, which left teams and drivers in limbo as officials scrambled to resolve the issue. This wasn’t the first time the Supercars category has battled with technical gremlins this season, with similar timing problems cropping up during the New Zealand and Tasmania weekends. It’s a headache no one wants during such a pivotal event, especially with championship points and Bathurst glory on the line.
When the action was green, championship leader Broc Feeney wasted no time asserting himself as the man to beat. The Red Bull Ampol Racing driver was quickest out of the gates, showcasing the form that’s made him a standout in the 2025 Supercars Championship. Feeney currently leads the points standings with 1 win, 12 pole positions, 14 podiums, and a commanding 2063 points as of October 9. His early pace at Bathurst is a clear signal to rivals that he’s intent on adding another chapter to his already impressive season.
The tricky, rapidly drying surface at Mount Panorama kept everyone on their toes, with several drivers—including Triple Eight’s young gun—dipping wheels off the racing line and flirting with disaster. But it was Mostert who became the first Supercars driver of the weekend to find the wall at turn two, forcing his team into a race against the clock to ready the car for the next session. The mood in the Walkinshaw Andretti United garage was tense, but the crew’s determination was palpable as they set to work on the battered Mustang.
At the chequered flag of the first practice, it was the duo of Ryan Wood and Jayden Ojeda who found themselves atop the timing sheets. Their strong showing will give their teams a welcome boost of confidence heading into the rest of the weekend, especially given the unpredictable conditions and the high stakes that Bathurst always brings. With Practice 2 scheduled to begin at 4:50 pm AEDT, teams had precious little time to regroup, repair, and recalibrate their strategies.
It wasn’t just the Supercars field experiencing drama on Thursday. Earlier in the day, the Toyota GR Cup practice session saw Toby Dvorak crash into the wall at The Dipper, marking the first accident of the day at Mount Panorama. The incident served as a stark reminder of the circuit’s unforgiving nature, where even the slightest miscalculation can have major consequences. For drivers and teams alike, the margin for error is razor-thin.
Looking at the broader championship picture, the 2025 Supercars season has been fiercely competitive. Behind Feeney, Matthew Payne of Penrite Racing sits second in the standings with 2 wins, 3 poles, 1 podium, and 1718 points. Will Brown, Feeney’s teammate at Red Bull Ampol Racing, is close behind with 3 wins, 2 poles, 1 podium, and 1708 points. Cam Waters of Monster Castrol Racing and Chaz Mostert round out the top five, with Mostert’s crash at Bathurst throwing a wrench into his campaign just as the season enters its most crucial phase.
Mostert’s status as a two-time Bathurst 1000 winner made his crash all the more shocking. The Australian fan favorite is known for his speed and resilience at Mount Panorama, and his determination to bounce back will be closely watched. His own words after the crash captured both his relief and his frustration: “I feel totally fine. I haven’t really had probably a decent crash in a Gen3 car yet, and I’ve seen some rough ones, so I was bracing for it. But no, the car did its job and the wall up there did its job.” As the team assesses the damage and works to get the Mustang back on track, the paddock is abuzz with speculation about how quickly Mostert can return to form.
Elsewhere in the world of motorsport, the 2025 Formula 1 Championship continues to captivate fans. Oscar Piastri, driving for McLaren, is leading the standings with 81 wins, 7 poles, 5 podiums, and 336 points. Lando Norris, also with McLaren, is in hot pursuit with 4 wins, 5 poles, 4 podiums, and 314 points. Max Verstappen, George Russell, and Charles Leclerc round out the top five in a season that’s been as unpredictable as it is thrilling. While Bathurst commands the spotlight in Australia, global motorsport fans are keeping one eye on the F1 title race as well.
As the 2025 Repco Bathurst 1000 weekend rolls on, all eyes remain on Mount Panorama. The blend of high stakes, technical challenges, and sheer unpredictability has already delivered a dramatic opening chapter. With Practice 2 just around the corner and teams scrambling to repair and refine their machines, the anticipation for what comes next is palpable. Whether it’s a comeback story for Chaz Mostert or another twist in the championship battle, Bathurst never fails to deliver. Stay tuned as the action continues to unfold at one of motorsport’s most iconic venues.
