Kai Allen cracks top 10 in chaotic Bathurst 1000

MOUNT Gambier’s Kai Allen has recorded his best result at the Bathurst 100, finishing eighth today (Sunday, October 12) at a wet and wild Mount Panorama.

The 20-year-old Penrite Racing driver is one of Australia’s brightest young racing talents and was in contention for a podium finish towards the latter stages of the race, but his Ford Mustang copped a few hits from passing drivers.

Starting in go-karts at eight, Allen quickly won multiple state and national titles before progressing to the Toyota 86 Series, Super3, and Super2.

In 2023, he became the youngest Super2 champion and made his Bathurst 1000 debut.

Now competing full-time in the Supercars Championship with Penrite Racing, Allen holds lap records at Hidden Valley and The Bend Motorsport Park.

Sporting talent runs in the family, with his sisters Sienna and Nyah playing professional netball.

Matt Payne and Garth Tander won the Bathurst 1000 after prevailing in an enthralling wet-weather race.

It was James Golding who crossed the finish line at Mount Panorama first, but he did not claim victory after copping a five-second penalty.

Payne did not lead until four laps remained of today’s 161-lap classic, when he was the beneficiary of a stoush between Golding and Cooper Murray.

Payne held on to claim the holy grail of Australian motorsport for the first time, while Tander won his sixth title at the Great Race.

Team 18 driver and 2017 Bathurst 1000 winner David Reynolds finished second after crossing the line third in the nearly seven-hour epic.

Murray was fourth across the line.

 – WITH AAP