VAN GISBERGEN WINS AS MCLAUGLINS CHALLENGE RUNS DRY

Shane van Gisbergen took an unlikely win in the penultimate race of the 2018 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship in Newcastle as his main rival, Scott McLaughlin ran out of fuel on the last lap.

The Shell V-Power team seemed to have completed a master stroke in running a two stop strategy compared to the three stops used by the majority of the field. McLaughlin and Scott Pye ran 1-2 for most of the latter stages of the race before the Walkinshaw Andretti United driver stopped for a late splash of fuel.  All eyes swung towards McLaughlin, who continued to stay out with a handy lead over the #97 Red Bull Holden Racing Commodore.

Shane van Gisbergen made significant inroads into McLaughlin’s lead, but the #17 Falcon looked to be safe as they started the last lap until the Shell V-Power entry began to thirst for their sponsors product with the cough and splutter slowing the car.   Van Gisbergen moved to the inside at the approach to the hairpin, with McLaughlin literally powerless to do anything to stop van Gisbergen.

McLaughlin surrendered the lead and was fortunate to claim second as he limped over the line on the last breathes of fumes. He stopped on the side of the track and eventually emerged less than happy with the result.

The race was expected to be run with team tactics playing a major role with Jamie Whincup and Fabian Coulthard close to their teammates on the grid, though it soon came down to McLaughlin and van Gisbergen as the other two clashed and Whincup was put into the wall.

Coulthard suffered major damage to the #12 Shell V-Power Falcon shortly after when the rear of his car stepped out on the approach to turn 1 and he found the tyre wall. A close following Nick Percat hit the rear of Coulthard‘s car with the Ford’s rear spoiler peeling the entire side from Percat’s immaculate BJR Commodore.

In the frantic round of pitstops that followed immediately after the incident, Craig Lowndes race was compromised when he hit the rear of the Walkinshaw Andretti United Commodore as he approached his pit bay. The impact damaged the left front of the golden Autobarn Commodore and left the normally resilient Lowndes seething in the garage. There was further difficulties for the Autobarn crew when on of the team’s wheels was hit by Mark Winterbottom and dragged down the fast lane towards pit exit.

Shane van Gisbergen went on to take the win from Scott McLaughlin, with David Reynolds third.  There is now just a two point difference in the championship after 30 races. 

Tomorrows final race will see the winner of the 2018 championship decided between McLaughlin and Van Gisbergen as the first car home between the two, regardless where they finish in the order.

Photo: John Morris

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