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IT’S SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN TIME IN WA

Scott McLaughlin leaded from the front in WA - Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

By Bruce Williams

Scott McLaughlin leaded from the front in WA - Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

Scott McLaughlin leaded from the front in WA – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

Scott McLaughlin has made it a 300-point weekend with a win in Race 8 of the Supercars Championship at Barbagallo Raceway.

McLaughlin turned his second pole of the weekend into a win with a dominant win, leading all the way to beat home Chaz Mostert. The PRA driver started and finished second but had no answer for the Shell V-Power Falcon.

I was pretty nervous, my first race in front of the bosses!” said a delighted McLaughlin after the race. “It’s not only [engineer] Ludo [Lacroix] that has come on board, it has been a lot of work.”

Scott McLaughlin victorious in WA - Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

Scott McLaughlin victorious in WA – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

Third was Jamie Whincup, who started sixth and who had to survive a bumping match on the opening lap, first with arch-rival Mark Winterbotton and then with his own teamate Shane van Gisbergen. The defending champion had to come from behind and made ground in the last 10 laps, moving to sixth at the flag.

Winterbottom was solid in fourth ahead of Will Davison who drove brilliantly, in spite of burning his feet on the Tekno car’s pedals in the stifling conditions.

Fabian Coulthard was seventh, and has seen his points lead cut. Four drivers are now covered by 31 points.

Drive of the day came from Craig Lowndes, who qualified 18th, started from the rear of the grid after and engine problem on the formation lap and then had a clash with Alex Rullo – and a delaminated tyre. In spite of the dramas the veteran streaked through the field on a three-stop strategy.

The next round of the series will be at Winton Motor Raceway in two weeks’ time.

Points: Coulthard 802, van Gisbergen 783, Whincup 780, McLaughlin/Mostert 771, Winterbottom 648, Tander 606, Lowndes 564, Waters 544, Moffat 507.

Keep tuned into Auto Action for all the latest Supercars action throughout the year.