In the first Bathurst of the Gen3, post-Commodore era, van Gisbergen’s victory made it 21 of 24 wins to Camaro this season, with no Ford car saluting in multiple races.

Van Gisbergen’s win was salt into the wounds of Ford teams, who were left fuming after Supercars rejected technical adjustments to the Mustangs just days before Australia’s most famous motor race.

Ford’s great hope Cam Waters was out of contention after lap-70 following a crash by his co-driver James Moffat.

Waters, who has started in the top-three for the past five years at Mount Panorama, will remain searching for an elusive victory in the great race.

Moffat caused the third safety car of the 161-lap race after smashing into a wall at The Dipper.

He had to be towed into the garage after the car stopped just before pit-lane and they failed to finish, along with Brad Jones Racing duo Andre Heimgartner and Dale Wood.

Supercars legend Craig Lowndes’s hopes of a surprise victory in his 30th Bathurst 1000 race came to an abrupt halt after 18 laps.

The seven-time Bathurst winner was forced into the pits due to a broken gear lever mount.

The Triple Eight wildcard entry was able to get back on track but not even the incomparable Lowndes could ever make up so much ground and he finished 26th.

–AAP