GIANT KILLER
HOLDEN’S David Reynolds claimed his maiden Bathurst 1000 title at a wet and wild Mount Panorama yesterday, the Erebus Motorsport driver holding off the big boys in a drama-filled race.
NOBODY is laughing at David Reynolds now.
Known as the Supercars joker — a flower pot-throwing, one-line whiz who drinks champagne from a shoe — Reynolds was reborn as a serious racer yesterday when he won the Bathurst 1000.
Two years after being issued a record fine of $25,000 for calling an all-female race car the “Pussy Wagon’’, Reynolds, 32, survived a 1000km wet weather war to become the 2017 king of Mt Panorama.
It was a giant-killing win from a one-car team punching well above its weight.
Six-time winner Mark Skaife described it as a victory for David over Goliath.
“I have nothing left to give,’’ Reynolds said.
“I am absolutely spent. It was just an unbelievable day and my crew were faultless. It was just a perfect day.’’
Flooring his way to the lead on lap 146, he sprinted home to score the fairytale win for Erebus Motorsport and Holden.
Crying as he emerged from his Commodore, Reynolds kicked one of his boots into the crowd, pretended to sleep on his car, and, of course, drank champagne from his remaining shoe.
“This is just so awesome,’’ he said.
“This is just such a special team. It is massive for the team. We have moved workshops twice, changed manufacturer, but this team is getting better and better.
“I just love my job when I am working for them.”
Combining with Luke Youlden to help owner Betty Klimenko realise her dream, Reynolds drove through horrid conditions to win by almost four seconds.
He took a career gamble two years ago when he switched from former factory powerhouse FPR to replace Erebus walkout Will Davison.
“This team just ticks every box. I love it here,” he said. “I was struggling to hold in the tears over the last couple of laps.
“I think I owed this to the team. I have been close to paying them back with a win, but I think this ticks all the boxes now.’’
Klimenko could not contain her emotion after winning the great race.
“Sorry, I just can’t talk,’’ she said. “This is all too much.’’
Youlden was faultless in his role as co-driver.
“It has taken a long time to get, but it is an unbelievable feeling,’’ he said.
“It is so great to do with Dave and this team.’’
Following a tame start in torrential rain, the race exploded to life on lap 145 after a crash brought a safety car.
Red Bull giant Shane Van Gisbergen spun from the front at the restart to start chaos.
Bunched and in a no-holdsbarred fight for glory, Ford flyers Cameron Waters and Chaz Mostert were hit.
Enter Reynolds. The Erebus racer floored his way past Nick Percat to steal the lead with 15 laps to go.
He looked set to be forced into a finish-line fight with Van Gisbergen, who went back on a charge to steal third.
But the Red Bull behemoth went off with an all-or-nothing play to take second to kill his chance.
Reynolds was forced into a six-lap sprint after another safety car. He held on to win in a career-defining moment.