By 2021, Garth Tander had firmly established himself as one of Supercars’ greatest endurance specialists. Although no longer racing full-time, the 2007 Supercars Champion remained one of the category’s most sought-after co-drivers, combining experience, race craft and remarkable speed. Reuniting with reigning Bathurst winners Shane van Gisbergen and Triple Eight Race Engineering, Tander returned with one clear objective – defend their Bathurst 1000 crown.
In preparation for Mount Panorama, Tander committed his full focus to the campaign, even stepping away from a conflicting GT World Challenge program. Behind the scenes, he continued to play an important role within Triple Eight, contributing to car development and helping prepare the team for the biggest event of the season. His value extended well beyond race weekend.
For the Bathurst 1000, van Gisbergen and Tander competed in the iconic #888 Red Bull Ampol Racing Holden, with Triple Eight temporarily changing the entry number from #97 to #888 for the event. The pairing quickly proved they would again be among the favourites, with Tander immediately matching the pace of the championship leader despite his limited racing schedule. His smooth, mistake-free driving kept the car firmly in contention throughout the race.
As the closing stages unfolded, a second consecutive Bathurst victory looked well within reach. However, a late-race tyre failure cruelly ended any realistic chance of victory, forcing the team to settle for fourth place after spending much of the day fighting at the front. The result failed to reflect just how competitive the pairing had been and remains one of the biggest “what if” stories of the 2021 Great Race.
Although another Bathurst trophy slipped away, Tander once again demonstrated why he was regarded as the benchmark endurance co-driver. His ability to step into a championship-winning team and immediately perform at the highest level reinforced his reputation as one of the sport’s most dependable competitors. While the result was disappointing, his 2021 campaign laid the groundwork for the redemption that would come just 12 months later when he and Shane van Gisbergen returned to conquer Mount Panorama once again.
