Ford's Scott McLaughlin has pulled off a remarkable Supercars comeback win on the streets of Surfers Paradise as this year's nailbiting championship race gets even tighter.
Scott McLaughlin in action Photo: Photosport
The New Zealander's seventh win of the season keeps him firmly in a five-man championship battle with just four races left in the year.
The DJR Team Penske driver came from 13th on the grid to secure victory ahead of Red Bull Holden Racing Team pair Jamie Whincup and Shane Van Gisbergen thanks to a bold pit strategy.
McLaughlin pitted a lap before his championship rivals, coming out in front of both once all three cars had completed their compulsory second stop in Sunday's 300km race on the Gold Coast.
The 24-year-old then kept his nose clear of the Holden pair to secure the win before running out of fuel on his victory lap.
Whincup has taken the lead in the championship for the first time this year after his finishing second.
The six-time driver's champion is just 17 points ahead of McLaughlin's team-mate Fabian Coulthard, who recovered from a disastrous starting position of 22 second to finish ninth.
McLaughlin is third on the standings after his win on 2553 points, 27-points behind Whincup.
Ford's Chaz Mostert, who claimed the Endurance Cup with a seventh-place finish on Sunday, is fourth on the ladder with 2454 points with defending series champion Van Gisbergen rounding out the five championship contenders on 2391.
The result means a mere 189 points covers the five championship rivals heading into next month's penultimate event at Pukekohe in New Zealand.
- AAP
