V8 Supercars finale: McLaughlin wins Race 1, Whincup crashed out

DJR Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin wins the first race of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship season’s finale at Newcastle street circuit and has taken a lead in the standings ahead of Red Bull Holden’s Jamie Whincup, who crashed out on the opening lap.

Whincup recovered after 13 laps in a garage to finish 21st and earned some points. McLaughlin now has 78 points more than Whincup, with one more race scheduled for tomorrow. McLaughlin now only needs to finish 11th in the final race to take his maiden title, even if Whincup wins the race.

Scott McLaughlin, Newcastle, pole position

Scott McLaughlin was on a pole position for 15th time this season

In the Race 1 of the Coates Hire Newcastle 500, Whincup started from P5 and attacked Michael Caruso at Turn 2 of the opening lap. A contact happened which broke Holden’s front-right suspension and Wincup ended in a wall. His mechanics managed to repiar the#88 car so Whincup scored at least some points. His 30-point lead turned out into 78-point deficit following McLaughlin’s victory. It’s his 8th win of the season and it came after 15th pole position of the season.

Fabian Coulthard doubled up a celebration for DJR Team Penske/Shell V-Power Racing, finishing in the second place after he started from P8. The Ford team now has an uncatchable lead in the teams’ championship, breaking Triple Eight’s streak of championshp victories.

Tim Slade (Brad Jones Racing, Holden) took the third podium spot, ahead of Lee Holdsworth (Preston Hire Racing, Holden) and David Reynolds (Erebus Motorsport, Holden) completed the top five. Simona de Silvestro (Team Harvey Norman, Nissan) crashed out from fifth place at Turn 12 late in the race, missing to score his career best result.