Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen scored a home win in an intense opening leg of the ITM Auckland SuperSprint that spelt disaster for two title contenders.
Forecast rain that officials feared would make racing impossible on the partially-resurfaced circuit held out, although light drops in the closing stages added to the drama.
Van Gisbergen eventually led home Mark Winterbottom, Scott McLaughlin and Jamie Whincup after the former pair jumped their two rivals in a Safety Car-induced second round of stops.
“We started on slicks, and it was very dicey with only one racing line,” commented van Gisbergen. “We ran in third and came out from the pit stop in third so we just tried to run with the leaders, Jamie (Whincup) and Scotty (McLaughlin), and then it got exciting with the safety car, we came out in front and had to save a bit of fuel but we were in front so we were able to do it. It’s awesome to win and we just have to see what the weather does tomorrow and stay on top of that. Hopefully it’s dry, the track is too dangerous in the wet conditions, so hopefully it’s dry and we can put on a good show again.”
Disaster struck title contenders Chaz Mostert and Fabian Coulthard, in a late-race, multi-car fracas exiting the Turn 8 hairpin.
It resulted in a flip for the Shell Ford and a penalty for Mostert, who triggered the drama with a bump on David Reynolds.
“It just basically all stems from that redress that Chaz (Mostert) tried to do when he bumped Reynolds out of the way,” commented Coulthard. “I went along for the ride. It’s one of those situations where you’re a passenger and you just don’t know how hard it’s going to hit and when it’s going to hit. Being the racer that I am, you go to anyone down pit lane they would’ve done exactly the same thing I did. There was a gap, I went for it and I just got a tag from Reynolds, so it is what it is. I’m gutted for my guys, obviously. The car is fixable, it’s just going to be a long night tonight.”
The results thrust van Gisbergen ahead of Mostert and to within 159 points of Whincup in the title fight, the latter now leading McLaughlin by 18 and Coulthard by 137.
McLaughlin started fourth on combined practice times, and then worked his way forward across the opening stint to be right on Jamie Whincup’s bumper. They had several spectacular battles throughout the race, each one at high speed around the Pukekohe Park bullring. They came out of the final pit stops nose to tail, however were held up behind the Safety Car, which allowed Shane van Gisbergen and Mark Winterbottom to jump them. This placed Scott fourth on the road. He passed Whincup at the hairpin a couple of laps later, and then drove away to consolidate the final podium place. It has jumped him to second in the Championship, only 18 points behind Whincup.
“We had a crack,” commented McLaughlin. “Cool to see a kiwi on top, but I wanted to be it. It’s good for the crowd here. When I passed Jamie I could see them all cheering – it gives me goose bumps, it’s so awesome. I was holding my breath when I was full locked right, around that fast sweeper. We race hard and fair. I think that’s what the crowd comes to see. That really sucks for Fabs, but I’m sure our awesome team will get it back out tomorrow.”
DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1. Jamie Whincup 2700
2. Scott McLaughlin 2682
3. Fabian Coulthard 2563
4. Shane van Gisbergen 2541
5. Chaz Mostert 2490
6. Craig Lowndes 2040
7. Mark Winterbottom 2010
8. Cameron Waters 1942
9. Garth Tander 1926
10. David Reynolds 1890
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