REYNOLDS WINS, MCLAUGHLIN TAKES TITLE IN NEWCASTLE

Scott McLaughlin celebrating his championship win – Photo: InSyde Media

David Reynolds has ended a breakout season for the Erebus Motorsport team with the victory on the streets of Newcastle, while Scott McLaughlin finished runner-up to take his maiden Supercars title.

McLaughlin led for most of the way after leapfrogging Reynolds during the first pit stop phase, but increased pressure from Reynolds forced DJR Team Penske’s hand with five laps to go with McLaughlin letting the Erebus Commodore through.

Reynolds took Pole and made a perfect start alongside McLaughlin to hold the championship leader out heading into Turn 1. Behind, Garth Tander leaped ahead of Shane van Gisbergen at the start, before the Kiwi made his move at Turn 8 to pursue his title rival.

Jamie Whincup and Fabian Coulthard continued their duel from yesterday’s race, but it was the DJR Team Penske driver that ended in the wall, suffering major damage to the rear of his Falcon.

David Reynolds took the race win – Photo: InSyde Media

This brought out the Safety Car and a short refill for McLaughlin brought him out in front of Reynolds with van Gisbergen emerging in fifth.

Despite some worries from lapped traffic, McLaughlin held his nerve to carry a 4s margin into the next round of pit stops, maintaining his lead ahead of Reynolds. However, with 10 laps remaining the pressure was building from Reynolds and with five laps remaining Ludo Lacroix told McLaughlin to forgo the lead as the Red Bull Holden Racing Team duo were many seconds arrears.

Reynolds finished 4.6807s clear of the newly crowned champion, while Whincup rounded the top three ahead of his teammate van Gisbergen. The final championship margin, 71 points.

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