Photo: V8 Supercars

Shane van Gisbergen claims maiden V8 Supercars title despite penalty

Shane van Gisbergen claimed his maiden V8 Supercars title after finishing third in the first race of the season finale weekend in Sydney, despite a penalty and title-rival Jamie Whincup winning the race.

“Pretty amazing feeling – sorry to Mark, I went up the inside and didn’t commit,” said van Gisbergen said.

“It was good racing, a big battle with James and Scotty (McLaughlin) at the end. What an amazing year, thanks to all our sponsors … pretty awesome day. I just wanted to do a burnout but we’ll do that tomorrow.”

Van Gisbergen received a drive-through penalty early in the race for contact with last year’s champion Mark Winterbottom. The two made contact in turn nine after Van Gisbergen had made a poor start from pole position and tried to get back up.

The penalty dropped the Triple Eight Race Engineering driver to ninth and started a charge through the field that ultimately was enough for third, passing Holden Racing Team driver James Courtney at the very end of the race.

Team-mate Whincup won the race ahead of Garth Tander, with Volvo driver Scott McLaughlin finishing fourth behind Van Gisbergen.

Courtney came home in fifth for Holden Racing Team after being passed by both Van Gisbergen and McLaughlin on the final lap.

Rick Kelly finished sixth as the best Nissan Motorsport driver, with Will Davison in seventh and Craig Lowndes, who drops to fourth in the drivers’ championship behind McLaughlin, in eighth.