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SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN CLAIMS SUNDAY HONOURS ON THE GOLD COAST

Scott McLaughlin bounces back to win on the Gold Coast - Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

By Bruce Williams

Scott McLaughlin bounces back to win on the Gold Coast - Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

Scott McLaughlin bounces back to win on the Gold Coast – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

DJR Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin has taken victory in the final endurance race of the Supercars season on the Gold Coast after an excellent opening stint from French co-driver Alex Premat and a masterful strategy allowed the Kiwi to leap frog all three Triple Eight Commodores.

Despite the struggles the team endured yesterday it was a RBHRT front row lockout after the top ten shootout, Shane van Gisbergen claiming Pole ahead of teammate Jamie Whincup in totally opposite conditions to what was dealt with yesterday. Behind the pair, Craig Lowndes put in his best qualifying performance of the year to make it a Triple Eight 1-2-3.

DJR Team Penske were noteworthy omissions from the top ten shootout, still plagued with set up issues after yesterday’s rare failure.

It was Paul Dumbrell that beat Matt Campbell off the start, though it was Richie Stanaway that made the best start and climbed up to fifth, pressuring Jack Perkins for fourth.

The Supercars field making their way through the beach chicane - Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

The Supercars field making their way through the beach chicane – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

Incidents behind knocked out Taz Douglas, who suffered broken steering after a collision with James Golding, and Andre Heimgartner, who suffered significant rear-end damage when spun by Dean Fiore. Fiore was penalised for his role in the incident. Luke Youlden was another to exit early when he clipped the final ripple strip at the back esses too hard and clipped the outside wall, damaging the rear end.

Stanaway passed Perkins on lap 13 and set his sights on Steve Richards in the TeamVortex Commodore, as was Alex Premat, who moved from 13th to sixth by lap 24. However it was not plain saving for David Russell as he was nudged the wall after contact with Richard Muscat resulting in a rubbing tyre and a coolant leak. Alex Davison was also affected when he was squeezed into the wall damaging the LDM Commodore.

The next to falter was Stanaway. After monstering Richards for a couple of laps, the Kiwi made his move at Turn 3, lap 34, but it ended in wheel-to-wheel contact and broken steering, dropping a lap and out of contention for the Pirtek Enduro Cup.

Triple Eight continued to run 1-2-3 after the first pit stops with Whincup and SVG running in the 11’s.

The next pit stop was crucial as Ludo Lacroix played a masterstroke and brought McLaughlin early and fuelled him, as it turned out, to perfection. McLaughlin leapt each of the Triple Eight cars in one hit and was never headed to the flag. He ran out of fuel heading into pit lane after his parade lap. Traffic interfered throughout the final stint, but never became an issue.

Whincup finished 1.5s behind as SVG’s car came on at the end, but was unable to capitalise finishing third.

Scott McLaughlin pushing his car back after running out of fuel - Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

Scott McLaughlin pushing his car back after running out of fuel – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith

Whincup now leads the series by 17 points over Coulthard heading into the penultimate round at Pukekohe in two weeks time.
Points: Whincup 2580, Coulthard 2563, McLaughlin 2553, Mostert 2454, SVG 2391.

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