Photo: DJR Team Penske

Scott McLaughlin storms to Gold Coast victory as Jamie Whincup claims lead

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Scott McLaughlin with DJR Team Penske co-driver Alexandre Prémat stormed from 13th on the grid to win the final race of the Gold Coast Supercars weekend ahead of Jamie Whincup in second place who has claimed the championship lead.

Key to the victory was for the Ford duo to make their final pit stop first of the front-runners, enabling them to get in front of the Triple Eight Race Engineering duo of Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen.

The track was completely dry in stark contrast to yesterday’s very wet race.

Whincup’s co-driver Paul Dumbrell headed the field at the start of the race from second place on the grid, snatching the lead from van Gisbergen’s co-driver Matt Campbell.

Whincup crossed the finishing line 1.5 seconds behind McLaughlin, with van Gisbergen completing the podium in third, 2.5 seconds behind the Kiwi who ran out of fuel on the way to the podium celebration.

“I don’t care about pushing my car if we’re pushing it into victory lane. This guy Alex did an incredible job too,” said McLaughlin.

Craig Lowndes made it three Triple Eight Race Engineering cars in the top four, claiming fourth place a full 21 seconds behind the leaders, with Prodrive Racing Australia driver Mark Winterbottom rounding out the top five.

Holden driver James Courtney claimed sixth position ahead of yesterday’s winner Chaz Mostert in seventh while Charlie Schwerkolt Racing driver Lee Holdsworth rounded out the top eight.

Former championship leader and DJR Team Penske driver Fabian Coulthard had another tough race to finish ninth, dropping to second in the drivers’ championship, 17 points behind Whincup.

The victory has taken McLaughlin to 27 points from the championship lead in third position, with Mostert fourth, 126 points behind, and van Gisbergen fifth, 189 points behind.