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WHINCUP CONTROLS FIRST RACE OF 2020 SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP

Jamie Whincup controlled the first race of 2020 - Photo: InSyde Media

By Bruce Williams

Jamie Whincup controlled the first race of 2020 - Photo: InSyde Media

Jamie Whincup controlled the first race of 2020 – Photo: InSyde Media

Jamie Whincup has started the season off the 2020 Supercars Championship with a controlled victory on the streets of Adelaide.

By DAN McCARTHY

The Red Bull Holden Racing Team driver started from pole position and was in control of the race from the word go, leading into Turn 1 and remained in a comfortable situation until the chequered flag was thrown.

Reigning Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin in his DJR Team Penske Ford started from seventh but with an undercut strategy the team played himself back into contention and finished in second position t the end of the 78 lap contest.

McLaughlin held back hard the hard charging Shane van Gisbergen in the final laps of the race, with the second Red Bull driver rounding out the podium.

David Reynolds dropped back to fourth - Photo: InSyde Media

David Reynolds dropped back to fourth – Photo: InSyde Media

David Reynolds had good speed in the opening stint but faded later in the race to fourth position, eventually finishing 13.3s behind the winner.

Will Davison rounded out the top five for 23Red Racing beating home Cameron Waters and Chaz Mostert, the trio were locked into an intense battle all race long.

Mark Winterbottom finished in a lonely eighth position ahead of Rick Kelly who made a successful debut in his Ford Mustang and held back the second Team Penske driver Fabian Coulthard in the closing laps of the race.

Andre Heimgartner, Lee Holdsworth, Todd Hazelwood, Anton de Pasquale and Scott Pye rounded out the top 15.

The second 250km encounter takes place tomorrow, Qualifying beginning at 12.20pm AEDT followed by the race that gets underway at 3.50pm AEDT.

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