Commentator Brenton Speed has called for a review of the five-second penalty given to James Golding for ruining Cooper Murray’s Bathurst 1000 chances and robbing him of at least a podium spot. Ford driver Matt Payne was crowned Bathurst champion on Sunday, despite crossing the line second behind Golding.
PremiAir Racing driver Golding had to serve a five-second penalty for an incident that wiped out Murray, which relegated Golding to third. But many believe the five-second penalty wasn’t harsh enough, and that Golding should have been made to serve a drive-through penalty in the pits.
James Golding crossed the line first in the Bathurst 1000 (L) but was relegated to third due (far right) due to a five-second penalty. Image: Supercars/Getty
A drive-through would have meant Golding didn’t make the podium, which would have seen Murray finish third. Instead, Murray finished fourth and missed the podium altogether – a brutal double blow after he was leading the race when Golding took him out with just four laps remaining.
Speed was among the many questioning whether Golding got off lightly. “5 second penalty for knocking the leader back to 4th…? Review incoming?” Speed wrote on social media. “Murray deserves podium – not the guy who took him out (Golding).”
Cooper Murray blasts James Golding after Bathurst 1000
Speaking after the race, a devastated Murray blasted Golding’s actions. “To be honest, I thought the move was never on,” he told Supercars.com. “In these (wet) conditions, as soon as you get off the racing line, the tram tracks, it’s just standing water everywhere.
“And we saw it with Matt Payne when he tried to pass me, he just locked the rears because he hit standing water and fired off. Jimmy was never going to make that corner. Unfortunately I was a bystander in that.
“I also don’t think five seconds was good enough of a penalty for the outcome. But on the bright side, to say I was leading the Bathurst 1000 with five laps ago is pretty cool. If you said we’re going to finish fourth at the start of the day, we would’ve taken that. So there’s always positives, but I wouldn’t wish this pain on my worst enemy, that’s for sure.”
James Golding wiped out Cooper Murray while he was winning the Bathurst 1000 with four laps remaining. Image: Supercars
Many thought Cooper Murray (L) should have been on the podium instead of James Golding (R). Image: Getty
Murray conceded he probably would have had a crack as well if he was in Golding’s shoes towards the end of the race. “It’s heartbreaking, it was an awesome day,” he said. “Me and Jobe [Stewart] didn’t really put a foot wrong all race. I was a bit of a wobbler at the start in the wet, it took me a little bit to get up to speed.
“The Erebus crew didn’t put a put wrong all weekend as well. A massive credit to those guys. The team’s been really good these last three to four rounds. It’s been awesome to be part of this team and roll on Gold Coast.”
Supercars fans left fuming over Bathurst 1000 controversy
Golding was apologetic but said he simply had to have a go. “Cooper was really strong off the elbow, so when I had that run out of Turn 1, I knew I had to go for it and have a go,” he said. “I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t have a go so unfortunately it didn’t work out, I’m sorry to him that it didn’t work out and sorry it didn’t work out for their team, but it’s racing, I had to have a go.”
Fans were fuming on social media that Golding was allowed to remain on the podium instead of Murray. One person wrote: “I’m still dirty Cooper Murray got punted by Golding cause he was on track for a podium finish.”
Another said: “I was hoping Golding would get the win, but he deserved a harsher penalty and should not have been on the podium.” While a third added: “Golding should have got a drive through for that, Kostecki got one, and it wasn’t even for the lead. Cooper had a great save, and deserved to be on the podium.”