Premat left stranded on top of Mount Panorama after Bathurst exit

The Frenchman was behind the wheel of Scott McLaughlin's Penske Ford when it rolled to a stop at The Cutting on Lap 75, an engine problem ruling the pair out of the race.

However he didn't get back to the garage until the latter stages of the 161-lap race, after being stranded inside the track and unable to get back to the garage.

McLaughlin, whose title bid took a decent wack with the no-score, even sent out a light-hearted tweet during the race asking fans to help out his co-driver.

“It was not fun, actually,” said Premat.

“They towed me with the tow truck and parked me at the inside of the track.

“I could not get outside of the track, except if there was a Safety Car, maybe like 30 laps later, but they didn’t allow me to cross the track.

“I was in the park just after the grate [at Sulman Park] on the left-side. I was stuck in the tow-truck watching the race on an iPad."

McLauglin's cheeky tweet didn't even land the Frenchman any refreshments from the crowd.

“I got some candy, but that’s it. Just some sugar,” he added.

“I stayed 100 laps on the top. And they were slow laps! I didn’t have any phone numbers for anyone, I don’t know his (McLaughlin’s) number by memory, so I couldn’t call anyone.”

Premat will be back alongside McLaughlin for the Gold Coast 600 in less than a fortnight.