Australian legend Garth Tander announced his retirement from Supercars

Six-time Bathurst 1000 winner Garth Tander has announced his retirement from Supercars as a driver.

At Sandown on Saturday, Tander confirmed that last month's Mount Panorama event - where he won the race with Matthew Payne - was his final appearance in the category.

“I hadn’t fully made my mind up [at Bathurst], but it was great to have the kids there,” Tander said on Supercars’ broadcast of the Sandown event.

“Obviously when we won, this is quite cool, this is really enjoyable. It was a nice fitting way to say, that’s it.

“I never made the full decision until a week or two after Bathurst.”

Tander, the 2007 Supercars champion, won 58 races from 648 starts and trails only Jamie Whincup (125 wins), Craig Lowndes (110), Mark Skaife (90) and Shane van Gisbergen (80) on the all-time winners’ list.

“I’ve been really, really fortunate,” Tander continued.

“I still remember being a 21-year-old kid qualifying 16th at Phillip Island next to Dick Johnson, my very first race, stalling it on the grid and I was last to the first corner. Not a great start to my Supercars career.

Matthew Payne, Garth Tander, Grove Racing Ford Mustang GT

Photo by: Edge Photographics

“To be able to end it like that with a win at Bathurst with Grove Racing, it’s a much better way to finish it than the way we started.

“I’m not sure we could go out on a higher high with winning that race, this year’s edition of Bathurst.”

Tander, 48, is expected to continue his growing media career as a TV commentator, a role which includes the Bathurst 12 Hour as well as Supercars events.

The news means that Grove Racing is searching for a new co-driver to partner Payne next season – though Tander is expected to retain links with the team as a driving advisor.

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