SCOTT McLAUGHLIN RETURNS TO THE TOP SPOT

Scott McLaughlin returns to top spot – Photo: InSyde Media

Reigning Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin has benefitted from a disappointing day for pole-sitter Shane van Gisbergen to take out the second leg of the Adelaide 500 today.

By HEATH McALPINE

A mistake from the Red Bull Holden Racing Team when they underfilled van Gisbergen’s Commodore allowed McLaughlin back into the lead with 10 laps to go when his Kiwi title rival needed to make a third stop to take on more fuel.

In turn, DJR Team Penske also made a mistake at the first round when a longer pit stop for McLaughlin dropped him out of the lead and gave van Gisbergen crucial track position.

It was a comfortable 10.3069s victory as the DJR Team Penske driver led home Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Chaz Mostert and Tickford Racing’s Cam Waters, who recovered from a pit lane overshoot to round out the podium.

The race started chaotically when Erebus Motorsport teammates collided at Turn 9. David Reynolds was passing Mark Winterbottom tapped teammate Anton De Pasquale into a spin with Scott Pye hitting the stricken Commodore.

Shane van Gisbergen looked to have the win in the bag until drama – Photo: InSyde Media

McLaughlin made the perfect start and led the early segment of the race, before the error in his first pit stop, but the race turned when RBHRT then made a mistake during his second service as van Gisbergen then set qualifying lap times to quell the effect of the third stop.

However, it wasn’t to be as with 10 laps ago he pitted, emerging in fourth, but as he pressured Waters for third a lower control arm failure at Turn 7.

Will Davison continued to impress in fourth heading Jamie Whincup, Lee Holdsworth, Nick Percat, Reynolds, Fabian Coulthard and Andre Heimgartner, completing a competitive weekend for Kelly Racing and the beginning of its Mustang program in 10th.

Just finishing shy of the top 10 were Mark Winterbottom, Jack Le Brocq and Rick Kelly, while rookie Bryce Fullwood had a troubled run to finish a lap down in 17th after hitting the tyre wall at Turn 11.

Garry Jacobson finished as last of the classified in 20th after contact with Kelly.

Team Sydney finished a tough weekend with 16th for James Courtney and a DNF for Chris Pither after an off at Turn 11, which required the safety car.

Heading to the next round of the Supercars Championship supporting the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix at Albert Park on March 12-15, McLaughlin leads Whincup by 27-points, Mostert sits a further 17-points behind then followed by Cam Waters and Will Davison both three-points in arrears.

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