Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen can finally call himself a Bathurst champion after winning the iconic Great Race alongside teammate Garth Tander.
It was a flawless drive from the speedy duo, who led the race for the final 104 laps after van Gisbergen took the lead from Will Davison in the Monster Mustang as light rain hit the track.
Davison and teammate Cameron Waters stalked the No.97 Holden all the way to the finish, but the 31-year-old Aucklander held firm, producing arguably the greatest 63-lap-stint of his career.
But just when it appeared as though van Gisbergen would coast to victory, the mountain threw up trademark curveballs with two safety car periods in the final nine laps.
Jack Smith beached his BJR Holden as The Chase moments before Bryce Fullwood crashed on top of the hill.
A final six-lap dash became three after Zane Goddard his the wall after the restart, leaving Waters one final shot at passing the imperious Kiwi.
But van Gisbergen would not be denied, producing the fastest lap of the race with one to go to claim the coveted Peter Brock Trophy for the first time.
"It’s just awesome," beamed a delighted van Gisbergen.
"The last few laps were really tough with the Safety Cars but the team did a faultless job and the car got better all weekend, so thanks to my guys.
"We had a great car and it’s a great way to send out Holden. Thanks to Garth, he did an awesome job. I just wish my Mum and Dad were here."
He added of the late restarts:"“I knew as long as I got through Turn 2 I would be fine.
"Each time he got pretty close but got through Turn 2 with good grip so I knew I would be ok. Those last three stints were just qualifying laps, so just awesome.
"It was a real track position race, super hard to pass and when that rain came I was a bit slow at the start but then got going.
"That got us to the front and we never left it. Awesome day."
For teammate Tander it was a fourth Bathurst win since 2000 with the pair going one-better than 12-months ago when they were pipped to the chequered flag by Scott McLaughlin.
McLaughlin dominated the opening stanza after jumping Davison at the start, holding a 10 second lead at the first round of pit stops.
But a safety car on lap 35 following a race-ending crash for four-time Bathurst champion Jamie Whincup closed the field up.
The Kiwi and his teammate Tim Slade hung onto the leaders after losing the lead at their second stop, but their race was dealt a cruel blow when a Safety Car called on lap 97.
Slade had been on the verge of completing his minimum 54 laps for the day when the race was neutralised, forcing Slade to drive an additional stint, where he lost 15 seconds to the lead pack.
Mclaughlin piloted the No.17 Mustang home in fifth behind teammate Fabian Coulthard.
Chaz Mostert and Warren Luff completed the podium with a mistake free drive in the Walkinshaw-Andretti United Holden.
