Chaz Mostert heads Ford 1-2 in first Darwin race
Chaz Mostert headed a new Prodrive Racing Australia 1-2 in the first V8 Supercars race of the weekend in Darwin.
The Ford driver started second and out dragged James Courtney into the first corner, controlling the rest of the race despite two safety car sessions due to grass fires.
Team mate Mark Winterbottom started sixth but made a strong charge up through the field to challenge Courtney for second place.
The Holden Racing Team driver made a mistake about ten laps into the race, allowing Winterbottom and Nissan driver Rick Kelly past. Courtney was unable to get back up, meaning Winterbottom finishing second and Kelly third.
Things got ever worse for Courtney who had to retire close to the end due to a clash between him and Shane Van Gisbergen, meaning a retirement also for the Tekno Autosports driver.
The incident allowed James Moffat and Michael Caruso to get past up to fourth and fifth, meaning three Nissans in the top five.
The race was tough for several front runners as Fabian Coulthard retired on the first lap after an incident with reigning champion Jamie Whincup. The Triple Eight Race Engineering driver recovered to finish eleventh with team mate Craig Lowndes finishing 18th.
Lowndes was also involved in an incident early in the race. Volvo driver Scott McLaughlin tried to pass Lowndes into turn six, resulting in a retirement for himself while Lowndes and Tim Blanchard spun.
