Supercars joker Reynolds a serious threat

At last, cult hero David Reynolds can be taken seriously as a Supercars driver after claiming his maiden Bathurst 1000 title.

Still, it was hard to tell.

Reynolds still very much looked like the joker of the pack with his wild celebrations after claiming his maiden Great Race on Sunday in treacherous conditions.

After crossing the line in the seven hour-plus epic almost four seconds ahead of fellow Holden gun Scott Pye, the 32-year-old lit up the miserable conditions at Mount Panorama off the track.

He pretended to fall asleep on top of his car after triumphantly getting out of his Holden following the 161-lap classic.

Then he emerged on the winner’s podium wildly piggy-backing co-driver Luke Youlden.

He thanked “baby Jesus” while raising the winners’ Peter Brock Trophy.

And of course there was the trademark “shoey” celebration that he helped make a household name.

Still, nothing quite prepared anyone for what was to come in the press conference.

Punters may wish to seek a full transcript considering little was printable without earning Reynolds another $25,000 fine similar to his now infamous 2015 “P***y Wagon” description of an all-female Bathurst team.

At one stage Reynolds started describing how he caught a glimpse of a nude entertainer trackside while waiting for one of the six re-starts in the epic enduro before being cut off by the press conference MC.

Yet in a brief break to the silliness, Reynolds managed to reflect on announcing himself as a serious Supercars contender.

“I think we have been raising the bar,” he said.

“Every race track we rock up to we are a better team – that is how quickly we are evolving.

“But I think I have always been taken seriously as a racer.

“I always do the best job I can and be the most professional I can in the car, but outside …”

Co-driver Youlden – who claimed his first Bathurst title at his 18th attempt – did his best to explain his Jekyll and Hyde teammate.

“Dave can switch on pretty quick,” he said.

“Obviously a lot of guys need to zen out before they get in but Dave is master of joking around and then getting into the car and knocking out fast laps.”

Asked if the landmark win would change his personality, Reynolds responded in what could only be described as classic Reynolds.

“A zebra never changes its spots, brother,” he said.

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