Mostert/Holdsworth lead Bathurst after halfway despite puncture

Lee Holdsworth led shortly after the halfway mark of what has proved to be a fast-paced Repco Bathurst 1000.

The pole-sitting Chaz Mostert/Holdsworth entry, with the latter at the wheel, was third behind the two Red Bull Ampol Racing cars when the 500km mark ticked over.

The #25 Mobil 1 Appliances Online Commodore fell out of sequence when the car picked up a left-rear puncture with Mostert at the wheel.

Mostert managed to return the car to the lane and set off regaining track position before handing over to Holdsworth.

The #6 Monster Energy Tickford Mustang of Cameron Waters and James Moffat was first of the cars in sequence.

Waters successfully recovered ground following a torrid first stint for Moffat.

Eight primary drivers started the race: Tim Slade, Bryce Fullwood, Will Brown, Mark Winterbottom, Broc Feeney, Fabian Coulthard, Todd Hazelwood and Garry Jacobson.

Tony D’Alberto got the better of Holdsworth off the line, before the latter regained the lead at The Chase.

D’Alberto was demoted to third by Garth Tander at Murray’s Corner, and Holdsworth shot into a clear lead.

The race immediately unfolded for the #20 DEWALT entry, with James Golding firing off at The Chase on lap 2.

Golding brought the car in with a suspected steering rack issue; he returned to the race after an hour of repairs, before the car was retired.

Holdsworth began to flex his muscle in the lead; by lap 10, the margin back to Tander was 5.2s.

Behind them, a slow-starting Moffat ran long at The Chase in sympathy with Fullwood on lap 10.

Seven laps later, the first BP Ultimate Safety Car deployment was called when Thomas Randle beached himself in the Hell Corner sand.

The balance of the field dived into pit lane, with the #17 and #88 entries losing time due to double-stacking.

Will Davison was 17th when the race restarted, with Jamie Whincup 11th.

Brodie Kostecki and Waters got into their cars and immediately moved into contention.

Kostecki cleared Tim Blanchard and D’Alberto and moved into third on lap 20; by lap 22, Waters was up to fifth.

By lap 23, Holdsworth had opened up a 3.7s lead, with Kostecki 1.9s behind Tander.

The provisional pole-winning Will Brown/Jack Perkins car dropped out of contention on lap 29 when it suffered a power steering failure with Perkins behind the wheel.

Cars cycled through their second stops, with Mostert taking over from Holdsworth on lap 37.

An undercut allowed Mostert to open up a 13-second lead on Waters once the left rear tyre delaminated on lap 49.

Mostert returned the car to pit lane for fuel and tyres, but he had lost enough time to hand the effective lead to Waters, who was five seconds ahead of Kostecki.

Mostert regained track position over the #6 Monster Ford once Waters was brought in on lap 55, handing the car to Moffat.

The Waters stop released Shane van Gisbergen into a clear 16.1s lead over Whincup; Nick Percat in third was being hounded by Mostert, who continued his march back into contention.

On lap 59, Mostert breezed past Percat at The Chase, and set off after the Red Bull Ampol duo. Mostert moved into second on the following lap when Whincup handed over to Craig Lowndes.

Mostert regained the lead when van Gisbergen handed over to Tander on lap 63. Mostert had gained a net six seconds on Moffat in the nine laps since the latter’s stop.

Holdsworth took over on lap 69 after the lead car took on full fuel and tyres. It released Moffat into the lead, with Tander 5.4s behind.

Moffat remained in the car when he stopped on lap 77, handing the lead back to the #888 Red Bull Ampol entry, with Lowndes 17.2s behind in second.

Lowndes stopped from second on lap 81, leaving Holdsworth 24 seconds from race leader Tander.

Holdsworth regained the lead when Tander stopped on lap 82.