Craig Lowndes was first off the line, and first to cross it on the final lap of the 200km final race at the Tyrepower Tasmania 400.

The Red Bull racer got the jump on his teammate, but with Jamie Whincup diving into the pits on lap one, strategy was in the mix with drivers having to complete two pit stops to take on the necessary fuel over 84 laps.

But despite a number of different choices from other teams, Lowndes could not be stopped at the front, ending the race with a 5.3sec lead.

“Lowndesy had an absolute rocket… he was too quick today,” Whincup, who finished second, said getting out of the car.

Lowndes could only compliment his crew.

“It’s a credit to all the guys from Red Bull Racing,” he said. “The car was brilliant.”

The result means Lowndes boasts a 70-point Championship lead over Whincup, who has now jumped Fabian Coulthard in the standings.

It was the battle for the final spot on the podium that heated up in the closing stages, with the contest between James Courtney, Will Davison and Fabian Coulthard intense.

Scott McLaughlin, Shane van Gisbergen, Tim Slade and Mark Winterbottom and David Reynolds completed the top 10.

Others to note include Jason Bright – who won a race here last year – in 17, Michael Caruso the best of the Nissans in 19, and Garth Tander 25 after front-end dramas.

Results – 84 laps:

Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Craig Lowndes Triple Eight Holden 1h15m08.3240s
2. Jamie Whincup Triple Eight Holden +5.3910s
3. James Courtney HRT Holden +10.0950s
4. Will Davison Erebus Mercedes +13.0283s
5. Fabian Coulthard Brad Jones Holden +13.1526s
6. Scott McLaughlin GRM Volvo +17.4855s
7. Shane van Gisbergen Tekno Holden +18.2185s
8. Tim Slade Rosenberg/HRT Holden +18.5269s
9. Mark Winterbottom FPR Ford +18.9026s
10. David Reynolds Rod Nash/FPR Ford +19.9221s
11. Russell Ingall Dumbrell Holden +21.4529s
12. Lee Holdsworth Erebus Mercedes +28.2436s
13. David Wall Dick Johnson Ford +29.1083s
14. Chaz Mostert FPR Ford +31.7184s
15. Nick Percat Walkinshaw/HRT Holden +33.5337s
16. Scott Pye Dick Johnson Ford +36.8697s
17. Jason Bright Brad Jones Holden +39.2701s
18. Jack Perkins Schwerkolt/FPR Ford +48.3023s
19. Michael Caruso Nissan +1 lap
20. Rick Kelly Nissan +1 lap
21. Todd Kelly Nissan +1 lap
22. James Moffat Nissan +1 lap
23. Robert Dahlgren GRM Volvo +1 lap
24. Dale Wood Britek/BJR Holden +1 lap
25. Garth Tander HRT Holden +10 laps