Five-second penalty for Payne after 'aggressive move'

Matt Payne, the winner of the 2025 Bathurst race, received a five‑second time penalty after officials determined that his overtaking maneuver forced fellow driver David Reynolds off the track.

The incident occurred during the latter stages of the race when Payne attempted to pass Reynolds. Race stewards reviewed footage and concluded that Payne’s move was aggressive enough to cause Reynolds to leave the racing line and run wide.

As a result of the penalty, Payne’s final race time was adjusted by five seconds, which could affect his overall standing and points haul from the event. The decision was announced shortly after the race concluded and was applied in accordance with the competition’s regulatory framework.

Both drivers and their teams were notified of the ruling, and the penalty will be reflected in the official results released by the event organizers.