Australian motorsport legend Garth Tander has officially announced his retirement from professional racing, drawing the curtain on a remarkable 27-year career that culminated with his sixth Bathurst 1000 victory earlier this year.
The 48-year-old driver made the emotional announcement during the Sandown 500 event in Melbourne on Saturday, confirming weeks of speculation that he would step back from his co-driving duties.
A Fitting Finale at Mount Panorama
Tander's final race behind the wheel was a storybook ending, claiming his sixth Bathurst 1000 trophy alongside Grove Racing's Matt Payne. The veteran driver revealed that he had approached this year's iconic race at Mount Panorama with retirement already on his mind.
"Even when I went to Bathurst this year, before the cars even ran, I basically went as if I was enjoying this as my last one," Tander shared. "So it was a nice, fitting way to say 'that's it, done and dusted'."
Following his Bathurst triumph, Tander took about a week or two to make his final decision, ultimately choosing to conclude his driving career while at the peak of his performance.
From Humble Beginnings to Supercars Greatness
Tander's retirement marks the end of an era for Australian Touring Car history, where he finishes as one of the sport's most successful competitors. His career began in 1998 when he debuted with Garry Rogers Motorsport as a 21-year-old.
The driver recalled his humble beginnings: "I still remember as a 21-year old kid, qualifying 16th at Phillip Island next to Dick Johnson, my very first ever race, stalling it on the grid, and I was last to the first corner."
His breakthrough came in 2000 when he claimed his first Bathurst win and secured second place in the championship. Tander's sole championship victory followed in 2007 with the HSV Dealer Team, contributing to his impressive career total of 58 race wins.
In the annals of Supercars history, only racing greats Jamie Whincup, Craig Lowndes, Mark Skaife and Shane van Gisbergen have achieved more race victories than Tander.
Life After Driving: New Roles and Opportunities
While Tander is hanging up his racing helmet, his connection to the sport remains strong. In a social media post, he expressed: "While my driving chapter comes to a close, my passion for the sport certainly doesn't. I'll still be staying involved in the broadcast, helping shape the next generation and giving back to the sport that's given me so much."
Grove Racing confirmed that Tander will remain with the team in a new capacity as team and driver advisor, ensuring his wealth of experience continues to benefit the organization.
The retirement creates a coveted vacancy for a co-driver at Grove Racing, with speculation pointing toward Matt Stone Racing's Tim Slade or recently available veteran Will Davison as potential replacements.
Tander's announcement comes just two days after fellow champion Jamie Whincup revealed he would also step back from co-driving in 2026, marking a significant changing of the guard in Australian motorsport.
