Mark Winterbottom has pounced from pole position to go back to back on day two in Perth.
The Pepsi Max Prodrive racer got the jump on Jamie Whincup off the line and continued to widen the margin to the Red Bull Commodore throughout the 25-lap race, crossing the line with a 2.9sec margin.
Winterbottom earned his first race win since Darwin last year earlier today and has improved his Championship position from sixth to first. It has been three years since he has won two consecutive races.
“That was awesome, the car was really good then it’s nice to be on pole,” Winterbottom said.
“Now we go home, we celebrate today and have to turn up tomorrow – but great result for the team, that’s a big turnaround.
“It’s cool to get wins and they will come, you just have to survive the bad ones … we just keep trying to do what we do.”
Whincup and his Red Bull team will be focused on improving the #1 overnight, the reigning champion feeling like there was no speed in his Holden Commodore.
“Great to have a podium but we had no pace out there whatsoever, I feel like I was holding everyone up behind me,” Whincup said.
“We’ll take second place and try to improve things overnight.
“We qualified well this morning, made the most of that – tomorrow’s a tough day, we’ll see how we go.”
Fabian Coulthard led the kiwi contingent, home third and continuing Brad Jones Racing’s consistent form at Barbagallo Raceway, while Shane van Gisbergen languished at the back of the pack after a poor qualifying, finishing 24th.
Scott McLaughlin parked his Volvo after a throttle sensor issue, continuing his heartbreaking run this season.
Behind Coulthard, it was Chaz Mostert, Craig Lowndes, James Courtney, David Reynolds, Rick Kelly, Will Davison and Tim Slade.
Winterbottom now leads the Championship by one point over Whincup.
Click here for full Championship points.
The V8 Supercars will be back on-track tomorrow for practice, qualifying and 200km of racing at the UBET Perth SuperSprint.
