Given David Reynolds’ reputation as the V8 Supercars class clown there would have been some nervous officials in the closing stages of Sunday’s Bathurst 1000.

The Ford driver, pushing eventual winner Jamie Whincup all the way, had promised earlier in the year he’d go up to the Mount Panorama podium nude if he won the 1000km endurance classic.

In the end Reynolds came second, the first podium finish of his V8 Supercars career, but he did admit his nudie-run pledge had crossed his mind during the 161-laps of the iconic 6.2km circuit.

“I did think about it, to be fair,” the 27-year-old said.

Reynolds has been threatening to join the sport’s elite for the past two seasons, regularly posting fast qualifying times only to fail to deliver during a race situation.

On Sunday it all came together, as he and co-driver Dean Canto constantly found themselves up the front before a 10-lap head-to-head with Whincup put Reynolds front and centre in the public eye.

In a rare serious moment, Reynolds admitted the achievement could catapult his career.

“This could be life-changing,” he said.

“If I’d won it would certainly have been life-changing, I just wasn’t brave enough on the last lap.”