Red Bull ensures a tight race for title
IT MIGHT just end up becoming the fiercest championship fight in V8 history.
Just 89 points separates Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen following a stunning Sydney Motorsport showdown that saw the pair go toe to toe in the latest duel between DJR/Team Penske and Red Bull Holden Racing.
Following a six-lap attack that bent panels and ruined paintwork, van Gisbergen floored his way past McLaughlin to move another step closer to stealing the championship lead.
The Holden driver now has the Ford star looming large in his sights after collecting a whopping 300 points in the one-off 300km return to night racing.
“We put a big preparation into it because we knew it was the biggest points per kilometre of the year,’’ van Gisbergen said.
“We knew we had to do a good job with no mistakes and that is what we did. It is really cool to come out of here with (maximum) points and we go into the next few rounds in a good spot.’’
Penske’s McLaughlin claimed he was not considering his position in the championship during his Eastern Creek fight with his Red Bull rival.
“No I wasn’t thinking about the championship,’’ McLaughlin said. “I wanted to win the first night race. I was trying my hardest. I know that Shane is my closet rival at the moment and I was trying to hold him back.’’
Leading the race until a final stint safety car sparked van Gisbergen’s race-winning charge, McLaughlin said he had nothing left to fight with after his tyres collected rogue road rubber.
“I wasn’t going to die trying by attempting to hold Shane and Jamie back,’’ McLaughlin said.
“I knew it was going to be on at the end. I was in a battle but unfortunately he was all over me and unfortunately I got a little bit of pick-up on the tyres at turn 3 and that was it.
“But I am sure it was still a good show for the fans, because it was from my seat. We raced hard and did no one any favours but it is still a bit disappointing because I feel like I had the best car.’’
Jamie Whincup also kept his hopes of winning an unprecedented eighth title alive by finishing the first night race in 21 years in second.
Whincup, who is third on the championship ladder, cut the gap to leader McLaughlin to 433 points.
“We were really lucky to get it off the line because my battery went flat,’’ Whincup said.
“We had the jump (start) battery in there the whole time, so I gave it plenty of revs and got a bump start.’’
A one-two to Red-Bull saw the V8 record breakers extend their lead in team’s championship.