A lights-to-flag victory in the opening leg of the Coates Hire Ipswich SuperSprint for Scott McLaughlin has seen him extend his Virgin Australia Supercars Championship lead over his closest rival Shane van Gisbergen who finished second. Craig Lowndes came home third just ahead of Jamie Whincup.
“We were really able to control that race, watching the gaps,” commented McLaughlin. “We had a go early in the race to see what we had, were able to pull a gap then and when we pitted, I just needed to get out in front of Mostert and watch the gaps to those behind us. It was a great team effort, good pitstop, the car was awesome. Really good day.”
After a penalty for Chaz Mostert in qualifying, the two Shell V-Power Fords of Scott McLaughlin and Fabian Coulthard started side-by-side on the front row of the grid with McLaughlin earning his ninth pole of 2018.
The start was strong from both cars, going into turn one side-by-side, with respect shown from both drivers, slotting into first (McLaughlin) and second (Fabian Coulthard) across the first stint of the race.
McLaughlin took his stop on lap 14, and rejoined the race in effective first place, just in front of Chaz Mostert. McLaughlin was then able to maintain the lead across the rest of the race, managing the gap back to the field throughout to take a dominant win – his seventh of 2018.
“We thought we were in a good place going in to qualifying, the cars have been quick all weekend but in qualifying we just struggled to hook it up,” commented van Gisbergen. “We tried a few things to rectify it and we were eighth, tenth and twelfth so it was a universal battle. We were good in the race, we had a great first lap, a good start with some good first few corners.
“It’s been a weakness until Darwin but we’ve worked on it, changed it up and it’s taken a bit for it to happen but today it was good. Throughout the race, we had some good battles along the way but unfortunately by the time we got through Scotty (McLaughlin) was ahead. I would’ve loved to have fought Scotty but they were definitely better today. Apart from coming second, I really enjoyed the race, we had a great day and we made the car better overall. We just need to qualify better tomorrow and take it to them and I feel like we can.”
McLaughlin has maintained his Championship lead, 143 points in front of Van Gisbergen, with Coulthard solid in sixth. The team is second in the Teams’ points, 66 behind Triple Eight.
DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1. Scott McLaughlin 2183
2. Shane Van Gisbergen 2040 -143
3. Jamie Whincup 1750 -433
4. David Reynolds 1742 -441
5. Craig Lowndes 1731 -452
6. Fabian Coulthard 1541 -642
7. Scott Pye 1441 -742
8. Rick Kelly 1438 -745
9. Chaz Mostert 1388 -795
10. James Courtney 1326 -857
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