MOTORSPORT: McLaughlin tops in Townsville

Emerging superstar Scott McLaughlin has taken the lead in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship away from DJR Team Penske teammate Fabian Coulthard.

Continuing the hot form that had seen him take four wins in his previous six starts, McLaughlin went 1-2 in the two 200km races on the streets of Townsville in his Shell V-Power Ford Falcon FG X.

Coulthard could manage only 11-21 finishes, dropping him 158 points off the pace into third place in the drivers’ championship.

Six-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup went 2-1 in his Red Bull Racing Holden Racing Team Commodore VF, cracking his first win of the year and equaling the record 105 race wins of his Triple Eight teammate Craig Lowndes.

It was also only the second win of the year for an Australian-born driver in a season where the top step of the podium has been dominated by New Zealanders McLaughlin, Coulthard and Whincup’s teammate Shane van Gisbergen.

Whincup trails McLaughlin by only six points after 14 races, with 12 races including the crucial long distance events still to come.

The thought of these two battling to the end of the year for the championship is mouth-watering. They have had a series of memorable race duels including the 2014 ‘Jandal’ race at the Clipsal 500.

On Saturday McLaughlin claimed his eighth pole position of 2017 and then overcame second qualifier Whincup’s early resistance to take a clear victory, with Prodrive Racing Australia’s Mark Winterbottom third. It is the first time in his career he has led the Supercars points table.

“It’s very cool to take the championship lead,” said McLaughlin.

“We’ve still got a long way to go, though. We came here hoping to get a couple of podiums and maintain out place in the championship, and we’ve done more than that, so I couldn’t be happier.”

Coulthard could qualify only ninth and was caught up in a first lap concertina that sent him to the back of the field. His result meant he lost the championship lead he had held since April.

On Sunday, McLaughlin was fastest qualifier and then claimed pole in the top 10 shootout, with defending Supercars champion van Gisbergen joining him on the front row.

McLaughlin led early, gave up the lead to Whincup through the two refueling stops and couldn’t bridge the gap during a tense sprint to the flag.

He was handicapped by a failed cool suit that was a clear impediment considering cabin temperatures were 60 degrees-plus. After a slow first stint, van Gisbergen recovered to finish third, some compensation for seventh on Saturday when he was slowed by a broken header.

"Overall I'm unbelievably happy with that,” said Whincup. “It’s been a long six months trying to get my first win and what a place to do it here in Townsville. It's a place I really love racing at and it's almost a home event for us being in Queensland.

“The car was great, full credit to the crew, they gave me a really quick car which was the difference, a car to be able to fight the other guys with.”

Coulthard was only 12th fastest in qualifying, was penalised 15 seconds at his first stop for spinning BJR’s Tim Slade and ended the race in in 21st.

“It’s been a weekend to forget, that’s for sure,” Coulthard said. “We tried our hardest to get on top of the car, but we just couldn’t manage it.

“Work to do on our side of the garage, but we’ll look to come back stronger at the next race. I’ve been in far worse positions than this previously, so we’ll bounce back.”

Beyond the two heavyweight teams, Prodrive was back on song after a poor Darwin with both Winterbottom and Chaz Mostert showing pace in both races. Youngster Cameron Waters and veteran Jason Bright had their moments too and all four team cars made the top 10 shootout on Sunday.

David Reynolds celebrated a new deal with Erebus Motorsport by showing strong qualifying pace in the Erebus Penrite Holden Commodore VF.

The Garry Rogers Motorsport Wilson Security Commodores of Garth Tander and James Moffat also continued their steady improvement. Walkinshaw Racing’s James Courtney scored his first top 10 since the Clipsal 500 for the former Holden factory team.

Virgin Australia Supercars Championship pointscore:
1 Scott McLaughlin Shell V-Power Racing Team Ford Falcon FG X 1608
2 Jamie Whincup Red Bull Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VF 1602
3 Fabian Coulthard Shell V-Power Racing Team Ford Falcon FG X 1450
4 Shane van Gisbergen Red Bull Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VF 1377
5 Chaz Mostert Supercheap Auto Racing Ford Falcon FG X 1257
6 Mark Winterbottom The Bottle-O Racing Team Ford Falcon FG X 1173
7 Craig Lowndes Team Vortex Holden Commodore VF 1104
8 Garth Tander Wilson Security Racing GRM Holden Commodore VF 1080
9 Cameron Waters Monster Energy Racing Ford Falcon FG X 1063
8 David Reynolds Erebus Penrite Racing Holden Commodore VF 1059