MOTORSPORT: Supercars set for Newcastle showdown

A slug-fest in New Zealand without a knockout blow ensures the 2018 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship will finish with a winner-takes-all grand final on the streets of Newcastle on November 24-25.

The two Kiwi championship contenders, Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen, split the wins as the high-speed Pukekohe circuit south of Auckland triggered the usual string of upsets and controversies.

Both skidded into the walls as they searched for a winning edge, although neither caused enough damage to take themselves out of contention despite McLaughlin having to sit out most of one Friday practice session for repairs to his car.

Van Gisbergen bullied his way to victory in Saturday’s opening 200km contest, using a ZB Commodore from Red Bull Holden Racing that was quicker in the crunch than the repaired Falcon that his Shell V-Power rival hustled to pole position.

But the places were reversed in Sunday’s tense battle as championship leader McLaughlin responded to the pressure from van Gisbergen and his Triple Eight team to claim a critical victory, as well as an emotional Jason Richards trophy which was presented by the cancer victim’s parents.

The whole weekend was a tense showdown for the title contending teams, although ‘Crazy’ David Reynolds and Chas Mostert hustled their way into the leading group and Craig Lowndes signed-off his final full-time visit to New Zealand with an impressive run to fourth on Sunday afternoon.

Reynolds was quick over a single lap but not fast enough over the race distances, while Mostert showed he is getting back towards his best with third on Saturday and sixth on Sunday.

The meeting produced the expected news that former champion Mark Winterbottom is finishing his time at Tickford Racing, most likely to join Charlie Schwerkolt’s Commodore outfit, with question marks over the 2019 driving seats of Lee Holdsworth, Michael Caruso and Richie Stanaway.

There’s also speculation over where Jack Le Brocq will land next year and how long it will take for Brad Jones Racing to confirm that Macauley Jones will take over the Cooldrive Commodore after Tim Blanchard announced his retirement.

The balance of power shifted between the two top garages over the weekend, even though Triple Eight had already wrenched the teams’ title back from Penke.

But the Shell squad effectively became a one-car outfit when Fabian Coulthard was too slow for the lead battle pack and was also punted into the wall on Saturday, forcing his crew to work until 1.30am to get it repaired for Sunday.

At Triple Eight, van Gisbergen was penalised five seconds for hitting McLaughlin in the first race and also had to survive an investigation -- and a Penske protest -- for a pitlane infringement.

But he benefitted from team tactics -- although no-one was using those words because of a ban on the practice -- as Lowndes moved aside for him on Sunday and then pole-sitter Jamie Whincup slowed dramatically on the final straight to hand him second place.

Van Gisbergen, who pulled up so close to McLaughlin after his Saturday win that his rival could not open his door, says he is enjoying the controversy of their championship stoush.

“I’m happy to be part of it and happy to be in the fight. Scotty and I always race super hard and give each other a car width, or a mirror, nothing more,” Van Gisbergen said.

“The battles with him are always on edge, but always fair and awesome. I can’t wait to take the fight to him and enjoy the last couple of races.”

McLaughlin arrived at Pukekohe with a tiny four-point lead in the championship, with the signature orange number of the series leader on his #17 Falcon, and he left the same way although extending his lead to a 14-point margin is nothing with another

PUKEKOHE RACE RESULTS:

SATURDAY
1. Shane Van Gisbergen; 2. Scott McLaughlin, Falcon; 3. Chaz Mostert; 4. David Reynolds; 5. Jamie Whincup; 6. Scott Pye; 7. Cam Waters; 8. Nick Percat; 9. James Courtney; 10. Michael Caruso.

SUNDAY
1. Scott McLaughlin; 2. Shane Van Gisbergen; 3. Jamie Whincup; 4. Craig Lowndes; 5. David Reynolds; 6. Chaz Mostert; 7. Fabian Coulthard; 8. Andre Heimgartner; 9. Mark Winterbottom; 10. Nick Percat.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS:
1. McLaughlin, 3656; 2. Van Gisbergen, 3642; 3. Whincup, 3175; 4. Lowndes, 3117; 5. Reynolds, 2918; 6. Mostert, 2669; 7. Coulthard, 2450; 8. Pye, 2410; 9. Kelly, 2377; 10. Percat, 2221.