Will Brown wins eventful Symmons Plains opener

Will Brown won the first Supercars Championship race of the weekend at Symmons Plains ahead of Andre Heimgartner and reigning champion Shane van Gisbergen.

Disaster struck title contender Brodie Kostecki early in the race as he was tapped into a spin by Jack Le Brocq while fighting for second place and then struck by Cam Waters.

The contact saw Kostecki pitting to repair the damage, dropping five laps on the leaders.

Lap three also saw another incident for title contender Chaz Mostert, being tapped into a spin by Triple Eight driver Broc Feeney.

Mostert had to retire from the race with steering damage.

Brad Jones Racing driver Heimgartner closed in on leading driver Brown after the pit stops were completed in the fight for the lead.

However, Brown was able to keep ahead to win the race by just below seven tenths of a second.

Fellow Chevrolet Camaro driver van Gisbergen came home a distant third, almost five seconds adrift.

Tickford Racing driver Waters finished fourth while Scott Pye and Tim Slade rounded off the top six.

Kostecki, who finished 23rd, keeps the points lead, 72 points ahead of Van Gisbergen.

The Symmons Plains weekend continues tomorrow with two qualifying sessions and two further races.