Mark Winterbottom heads Ford 1-2 in first Perth race

Mark Winterbottom got the jump on team mate Chaz Mostert in the start of the first V8 Supercars race in Perth to clinch victory and a Ford 1-2.

Mostert had pole position but Winterbottom made a better start to beat his Prodrive Racing Australia team mate into the first corner. The duo was close through the entire race, with Mostert seemingly a bit quicker but not able to get past.

“We normally have good results here but one-two is as good as it gets, awesome day. I was struggling a bit there, Chaz had a quicker car but I got him off the line… A one-two is awesome and I know Reynolds wasn’t far behind as well,” said Winterbottom to v8supercars.com.au.

The Ford duo was well clear of Craig Lowndes who had a lonely race to claim the final podium spot in third position. Third meant that the Triple Eight Race Engineering driver is the new championship leader as team mate Jamie Whincup started from 21st position on the grid and finished 15th in the race.

Shane Van Gisbergen was even further behind to finish fourth close to nine seconds from Winterbottom in the lead, with Jason Bright following closely behind in fifth position.

David Reynolds claimed sixth position ahead of Erebus Motorsport driver Will Davison in seventh position, with Fabian Coulthard rounding off the top eight.

The second race of the weekend, also of 25 laps, starts 15:15 local time.