Ellery and Macrow shine as highest placed Ford.

Although there were a number of notable performances in the Super Cheap Auto 1000 at Bathurst, two of the stars of the day were undoubtedly Steve Ellery and Adam Macrow who put in a sterling performance to finish third and end the day as the highest placed Ford.

Having qualified a middling 16th, the Team Betta Electrical duo made their way through the field as others fell around them to reach the podium and finish on the same lap as the race winning HRT Holden of Mark Skaife and Todd Kelly.

It is the third time Ellery has reached the Bathurst podium having finished third in 1996 and 2003, although he insists that he could have been challenging for the victory had a gearbox problem not forced both drivers to hold the gearstick in second and sixth for the majority of the race.

"Any time you step on the podium at Bathurst you have to be happy," said Ellery. "This is a tribute to the team and I'm really pleased for Adam who drove really well.

"Now that I look back, we came very close to winning today. If the gearbox didn't play up, I'm sure we could have been in the fight.

"This was a big result personally. This year has been pretty tough, but now with a result like this I'm sure we can get some momentum going over the final three races of the year."

Macrow, who is currently lying sixth in the HPDC championship, was delighted to have reached the podium for Team Betta Electrical, particularly as team mates Craig Lowndes and Yvan Muller were unable to convert their pole position good result.

"It's been a long time coming just to finish," said Macrow. "Standing on the podium is a big thrill and I'm keen to get some more of that action.

"The team showed faith in me as well as our plan. We were very much the back-up plan to Lowndes and Yvan Muller, so to bring the team a result is very pleasing.

"One of the highlights was to race wheel-to-wheel with the regular stars of the championship and hold my own. It was a great experience and has given me more confidence as a driver. I'll enjoy this moment, not that many people have a Bathurst trophy."