THE rains have finally arrived at Mount Panorama and caused immediate chaos in the first Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 Series race at the Repco Bathurst 1000.
Heavy rain began to fall only minutes after Supercars Practice 3 concluded and continued throughout the hour halt in track activities during a residents’ access period, then increased in intensity just prior to the start of the Toyota 86 race.
Early leader Jobe Stewart was the first to spin off, enduring a high-speed moment at the kink on the entry to the Chase, while Craig Thornton and David Schultz also crashed, triggering a Safety Car period.
The kink proved just as problematic on the restart.
Series debutant Ryan Wood and Ryan Gibbons led the field down Conrod Straight but both spun off when they arrived at the Chase, with a swathe of cars also spearing onto the grass in the treacherous conditions.
Watch the chaos unfold in the video below.
Zach Bates splashed his way to victory ahead of Ryan Gilroy and polesitter Ryan Casha.
