Dramatic win for Tander and championship lead for Whincup

Garth Tander won a dramatic 60/60 Super Sprint race at Philip Island today. The Holden Racing Team driver took advantage of a controversial clash between Craig Lowndes and Mark Winterbottom on the final lap of the first segment in the race.
“It was the last corner of the last lap of the last race that set up the win,” said Tander.

Winterbottom started from pole position, but was passed by Lowndes into the first corner. The Ford driver then chased Lowndes all through the first segment and managed to get past on the final lap, only for the pair to get involved in a clash which resulted in Lowndes spinning off track.

Tander managed to avoid the commotion and crossed the line first in the first segment of the race, a lead he maintained in the second segment to win the overall race ahead of the hard-fighting duo of Fabian Coulthard in second and Alex Davison in third.

Jamie Whincup had a disastrous qualifying session and started from 13th position on the grid. The Triple Eight driver managed to climb to sixth in the first segment and a further two positions to finish fourth in the overall race. The drive through the field mean that Whincup reclaims the championship lead.

Title rival and Ford Performance Racing driver Winterbottom dropped down to fifth position on the final lap, as Whincup made his way past.

There was further drama in the race as Alexandre Prémat and James Courtney crashed hard while fighting for sixth position. Prémat ran wide in turn three and spun across the grass in to Courtney, with both cars retiring on the spot. Both were taken to the medical facilities for a check-up where they were found to be okay, while bruised.

“I think that may have ended it for my car … it’s had a few big hits over the last three events … I think that was the end, the final nail,” said Courtney.

The race weekend at Philip Island continues tomorrow with two 100 km races.