The selfless act that inspired Frosty's bold Bathurst move

Mark Winterbottom has revealed how a selfless act by Steven Richards following Bathurst heartbreak was the catalyst for redemption six years later.

Then Ford star Winterbottom infamously threw away victory late in the 2007 Bathurst 1000 after dominating from pole position, with the then 26-year-old running off at The Chase in greasy conditions.

Six years later, Winterbottom and Richards combined to deliver a long-awaited first victory for both Winterbottom and Ford Performance Racing, with Richards winning for a third time.

Winterbottom’s march to victory in 2013 featured a brave move on Triple Eight Race Engineering Jamie Whincup at Griffins Bend on the final lap, with Winterbottom holding off Whincup.

Speaking on the Rusty’s Garage podcast, Winterbottom revealed how Richards was first to his car immediately after the 2007 race, which motivated Winterbottom not to make the same mistake if he got the chance again.

“Speaking about good people, [Richards] came and he met me at the car,” Winterbottom said of the 2007 race aftermath.

"So you pulled up, I literally cost him the race. He knows the situation, it's not like you just drove off and whatever, you were pushing hard in slippery conditions, young guy and trying your best.

“But he was at the car, opened the door for me. We park in that parc ferme area, it's not like it's at your garage, he had to walk a kilometre down to come and see me.

"Pulled up, opened the door, he was like, 'Good job mate', gave me a hug... I went back to the team, not in tears, but I was close, saying, 'I'm really sorry’. And they just said, ‘Righto, Gold Coast in two weeks, let's go’.

“So, you had good people around you that weren't downers, they always just picked you up and that was what being part of that team. He set the standard as well, very high.

“So as long as you get back in that '13 moment, it's like, ‘Righto. I'm not going off here. I'm not doing this. I'm driving you in the fence. I'm winning this thing'. Like, you’ve just gotta own your mistakes."

The chance came in 2013, Richards delivering Winterbottom the lead with over 60 laps remaining, with Whincup breathing down his neck.

For the final two stints, with the race running green from lap 89 until the chequered flag, Winterbottom kept Whincup at bay, leading to their fateful run into Griffins Bend.

“It was all the stars aligning, we were good enough on the day to go head-to-head, and we beat one of the best teams,” Winterbottom said.

"To do it with Tickford and to do it with Richo was really important for me, because we should have won '07.

"I always wanted to… if you're in that moment again, don't stuff up again, give me that moment, that opportunity with the same team and the same driver in the same high pressure, learn from your mistakes.

"And it was really important. It was a really important win, to go head-to-head. I wasn't gonna back down. When he went the outside at [Turn] 2, I was gonna drive him in the fence. I was like, 'I'm winning at all costs here. We’re winning this thing'.”

Winterbottom will reunite with Tickford Racing in 2025, signing with the team to partner Cam Waters at The Bend and Bathurst.