Photo: Red Bull Racing Australia

Craig Lowndes new championship leader after Gold Coast win

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Craig Lowndes has taken over the V8 Supercars championship lead from team mate Jamie Whincup after winning the first Gold Coast race of the weekend. The Red Bull Racing Australia driver won the race together with Warren Luff eight seconds ahead of Tekno Holden duo Shane Van Gisbergen and Jeroen Bleekemolen.
“This weekend has always been an Achilles heel for me so it’s nice to have a good run and finish at the top of the podium,” Lowndes said.

Van Gisbergen headed the field in the closing stages of the race but was passed in the pits by Lowndes due to different fuel strategies.

Ford Performance Racing duo Mark Winterbottom and Steven Richards charged through the field from 14th on the grid to take the final podium position in third, despite hard pressure from Tony D’Alberto at the end of the race. Winterbottom missed the majority of the qualifying session after damaging the steering on his Ford Falcon and the challenges in the race continued as he was penalized with a drive through penalty due to a loose side window.

HRT Holden duo Russell Ingall and Ryan Briscoe rounded out the top five, 18 seconds from the leaders.

Top Nissan driver was Rick Kelly in 11th position, with Lee Holdsworth becoming the top Erebus Mercedes driver in 12th position.

Whincup’s terrible weekend continued as co-driver Paul Dumbrell crashed out early in the race after contact with Greg Muphy. The duo started from 25th on the grid after a crash by Whincup in qualifying.