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SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN COMPLETES PENSKE SWEEP IN THE TOP END

Scott McLaughlin completes DJR Team Penske sweep of Top End - Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

By Bruce Williams

Scott McLaughlin completes DJR Team Penske sweep of Top End - Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

Scott McLaughlin completes DJR Team Penske sweep of Top End – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

SCOTT McLAUGHLIN gave DJR Team Penske a double win in the Top End with victory in race 12 of Virgin Australia Supercars Championship today.

McLaughlin’s triumph elevated him to second in the points standings behind Shell V-Power Ford Falcon FG/X team mate Fabian Coulthard with just ten between them while Red Bull’s Jamie Whincup, who led at the start and finished second, is only a further six points adrift of the pair.

The safety car-free 70-lap race had Whincup’s team mate Shane Van Gisbergen in the second of the Holden Racing Australia Commodore VFs finish in third place.

He was clear of freight train of cars where Coulthard held off the Holdens of Tim Slade (BJR Freightliner), Craig Lowndes (Team Vortex), David Reynolds (Erebus Penrite) and Scott Pye in an encouraging result for the under-fire Mobil 1 HSV Racing operation.

Behind them were the best of the Prodrive Racing Australia Fords in Monster’s Cam Waters placed ninth, and the front running Nissan Altima of Sengled’s Rick Kelly one spot further back.

The Holdens of Will Davison (Techno Woodstock) and Lee Holdsworth (Preston Hire) were the next two across the line ahead of PRA’s Jason Bright (MEGA) and Mark Winterbottom (Bottle-O).

James Moffat suffered a puncture - Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

James Moffat suffered a puncture – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

James Moffat (Wilson Security Garry Rogers Motorsport) was in the battle for fourth towards the end but a tyre puncture would relegate him and his Commodore to a lowly 24th.

The Wildcard entries of Jack Le Brocq (GoGetta Nissan) and Macauley Jones (DJR Drillpro VF) finished in 22nd and 23rd respectively while Simona De Silvestro (Team Harvey Norman Altima) was classified last, given a 15-second penalty for contact on Dale Wood (Erebus GB Galvanizing VF) who finished one place ahead of her.

Earlier in the day the Shell cars qualified one and two ahead of Whincup, Reynolds, Moffat, Van Gisbergen, Holdsworth, Lowndes, Waters and Nick Percat (BJR Holden).

Scott McLaughlin putting on a show for the crowd at Hidden Valley - Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

Scott McLaughlin putting on a show for the crowd at Hidden Valley – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

In the ensuing Shootout, it was McLaughlin who grabbed pole ahead of Whincup, Moffat, Coulthard and Van Gisbergen.

Missed yesterday’s race at Hidden Valley? Catch up here.

Make sure you pick up the next issue Auto Action for an indepth analysis of all Supercars action in Darwin. In the meantime follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest updates between issues.