How Golding reflects on close call
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 15 October 2025
James Golding admitted he had an “empty feeling” as he crossed the line first, but finished third at the Great Race.
Golding was in the thick of the stunning fight for the 2025 Bathurst 1000, leading 11 of the 32 laps.
Often the #31 PremiAir Camaro headed the restarts, but lost it through moments at The Chase or Hell Corner.
But the defining passage of the race came on Lap 156 when Golding attempted to take the lead from Cooper Murray with a peak at Griffin’s Bend, but made contact.
With the #99 Camaro sliding back to fourth, Golding not only lost the lead to Matt Payne, but suffered a 5s penalty.
Although Golding wrestled back track position and took the chequered flag first, the penalty dropped him to third, but still a deserved and hard-fought podium.
“The one that got away I suppose, but pretty cool to get a P3 at Bathurst,” he said.
“Congratulations to Matt and Garth, they did an awesome job, but wish I have it.
“It was a little bit of an empty feeling. I was happy, but I just honestly enjoyed that race.
“It was the best I have been a part in. it was phenomenal.
“When you have a good car that can compete in any race is awesome, but it is unreal in Australia’s biggest.”
Reflecting on the massive move against Murray, Golding felt Griffin’s Bend was the best passing point and he would have kicked himself not taking aim.
“I knew I would regret it if I did not have a go,” he said.
“Unfortunately, it did not work out and sorry to that team, but I had to have a go.
“I was best into Turn 2 under brakes down the hill and also into The Chase where I made a lot of passes.
“But Cooper was really strong off the Elbow so when I had that run off turn 1, I knew I had to go for it.
“No, I would not do anything different. I thought the move was on and had to have a go.
“The contact was just enough to turn Cooper. In wet conditions it does not take much. Touch and go but I will have to have look at the replay.”
Overall, Golding was simply proud to get PremiAir on the podium in his last Great Race for the team before he heads to BRT.
“Just a credit to the whole team at PremiAir, Izuzu Trucks Racing, it has been an incredible day,” he said.
“From Druss (David Russell) to our engineer Simon Hodge, we put the hard work in through practice, and when we knew the weather was coming, we dialled the car in as close to a wet-weather set-up as possible without affecting it in the dry.
“We knew we had good pace and started to let the race come to us.
“Druss did a faultless job, so did the mechanics down to the physio.”
Image: Peter Norton Epic Sports Photography
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