Chaz Mostert beats Scott McLaughlin to his second win of 2017
Chaz Mostert got the better of pole-sitter and yesterday’s winner Scott McLaughlin in the second and final Supercars Championship race of the weekend at Queensland Raceway.
The Prodrive Racing Australia driver made a strong start in his Ford Falcon FG X, while the DJR Team Penske driver bogged down, dropping three places before the first corner.
Jamie Whincup and the other DJR Penske Ford of Fabian Coulthard were able to pass McLaughlin on the first lap, with the New Zealander opting for a different pit strategy to try and gain back lost ground.
Triple Eight Race Engineering’s Whincup came close to passing Mostert during a stop, but had to back off to avoid a similar incident to that which he was penalised for during yesterday’s qualifying with Garry Rogers Motorsport’s James Moffat.
McLaughlin came out from his final pit stop right behind Whincup, making a move on the multiple champion on lap 49 and claiming second position behind Mostert.
The Kiwi closed in on Mostert and was even closer as the field was gathered behind the safety car, which was out to clear debris after a puncture.
As the safety car headed back into the pits, Mostert was able to fend off McLaughlin, who settled for second ahead of the Triple Eight Holden of Shane van Gisbergen, who’d made his way past Whincup, who finished fourth.
Coulthard crossed the line in fifth ahead of Holden driver Craig Lowndes in sixth, while Brad Jones Racing’s Tim Slade and the Prodrive Ford of Cameron Waters rounded out the top eight.
McLaughlin remains on top of the drivers’ championship, 129 points ahead of Whincup and 233 ahead of team-mate Coulthard. The 2017 Supercars Championship resumes in 18 days at Sydney Motorsport Park.
