IT WAS an anniversary trifecta as Holden won the Bathurst supercar race for the 25th time, celebrating 50 years since its first win on the mountain and in the Commodore’s 40th year as a nameplate.

The race last weekend showed Holden still has the goods to deliver on the track and a support base that coated Mount Panorama with enthusiasm.

It also showed that luck plays a big role in winning, as a retiring Craig Lowndes trounced his rival to take first place from an injured Dave Reynolds (Holden) who had lead most of the way but pulled back after suffering a leg cramp.

Holden executive director of marketing and the most senior representative of the company at Bathurst this year, Kristian Aquilina, said: “It was an outstanding result for Holden.

“It was epic to witness the 25th Bathurst 1000 win for Commodore in the nameplate’s 40th anniversary year,” he said.

“Craig Lowndes is a legend of the brand and the people, and he and Steve Richards drove a fabulous race.

“Congratulations to Roland Dane and his Triple Eight operation, and I would also say ‘well done’ to the Walkinshaw Andretti United team on their second place.

“Commiserations to Betty Klimenko, Dave Reynolds, Luke Youlden and the whole Erebus squad. They were fast all day and it was a cruel blow for them.”

Bathurst ended 2018 with Holden taking first and second, followed by Ford in third and fourth. Reynolds came in 13th.

Lowndes and teammate Steve Richards now have a total of 12 Bathurst wins.

By Neil Dowling