Photo: Prodrive Racing Australia

Mark Winterbottom wins as title rivals clash

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Reigning champion Mark Winterbottom won his second race of 2016 in the third race of the weekend in New Zealand with plenty of drama behind him.

The drama came from Triple Eight Race Engineering team-mates Shane van Gisbergen and Jamie Whincup, clashing on lap 12. Whincup tried to make a move on his team-mate, locking up his rear wheels and tapping them both into a spin.

Whincup received a drive-through penalty and dropped down to finish 25th, one lap down, while Van Gisbergen was able to recover to finish third.

“I gave (Whincup) some room, maybe he locked up. I haven’t seen it. I’ve heard he has apologised, so that is all good,” said Van Gisbergen after the race.

Scott Pye took a strong second place for DJR Team Penske, while Craig Lowndes made it three Triple Eight Race Engineering Holdens in the top four after a tough fight earlier in the race with Pye’s team-mate Fabian Coulthard who finished fifth.

Winterbottom’s team-mate Chaz Mostert finished sixth ahead of Volvo driver Scott McLaughlin in seventh and Will Davison rounding off the top eight for Tekno Autosports.