Photo: V8 Supercars

Jamie Whincup wins and grabs championship lead

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Triple Eight Race Engineering driver Jamie Whincup won the final V8 Supercars race of the weekend in Tasmania, taking the championship lead from team mate and pole sitter Craig Lowndes who was penalised early in the race.

Lowndes bogged down in the start that saw David Reynolds getting the jump into the first corner. The two made contact, sending Reynolds into a spin and Lowndes receiving a drive through penalty for it.

Lowndes fought back to sixth position at the end of the race from a strong charge while Reynolds finished 11th.

The contact saw Whincup being in control of the race, with Prodrive Racing Australia driver Chaz Mostert finishing second and Tekno Autosports driver Shane Van Gisbergen rounding off the podium.

Garth Tander closed in on Van Gisbergen towards the end of the race, but was not able to get past and had to settle for fourth.

Ford driver Mark Winterbottom came home in fifth ahead of Lowndes, while Volvo Polestar Racing’s Scott McLaughlin climbed from 11th on the grid to finish seventh.

Andre Heimgartner continues to show strong form for Super Black Racing in eighth position ahead of Fabian Coulthard and former championship leader James Courtney.

There was drama on the very last lap for Tim Slade who pitted for a late fuel stop, only to not being able to rejoin the track as Whincup had crossed the line to finish the race. The Walkinshaw Racing driver dropped down to 22nd position as a result.