Murphy and Kelly win Bathurst 1000

Craig Lowndes and Glenn Seton finished second in an FPR-run Ford after a controversial late race penalty robbed Mark Skaife and Todd Kelly of the runner-up spot. Steve Ellery and Luke Youlden finished third in a Super Cheap Racing Ford.

"It is pretty indescribable, it has been a fairy tale weekend," said Murphy. "Often when you have a good couple of days it doesn't hold up in the race, but it did today. The weekend all up has been phenomenal, undoubtedly this is the highlight of my career so far."

Team-mate Kelly becomes the youngest ever winner of Bathurst: "It is certainly the race to win as your first one. It is not easy to stand there and watch your car going around at the end. We had unbelievable reliability this weekend, but you don't win it until you cross the line."

Of the European drivers taking part, former British Touring Car champion Rickard Rydell finished seventh, sharing a Ford with fellow former BTCC racer Paul Radisich. Another ex-BTCC champ John Cleland finished ninth with Andrew Jones in their OzEmail Ford.

"It was a good day but, maybe, could have been better," said Cleland. "We had a sticking throttle for most of the race which cost us time, not to mention bloody scary. I love coming to this place and to get a result makes it all the better."


1 R.Kelly/G.Murphy Kmart Holden
2 C.Lowndes/G.Seton CAT Ford
3 S.Ellery/L.Youlden Super Cheap Ford
4 S.Richards/L.Perkins Castrol Perkins Holden
5 J.Richards/T.Longhurst HRT Holden
6 M.Ambrose/R.Ingall Pirtek Havoline Ford
7 P.Radisich/R.Rydell Betta Electrical Ford
8 M.Skaife/T.Kelly HRT Holden
9 A.Jones/J.Cleland OzEmail Ford
10 B.Jones/J.Bowe OzEmail Ford