V8 Supercar: Lowndes beats Whincup in race three

Craig Lowndes completed a hat trick of wins for Triple Eight in a fascinating third V8 Supercars race at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.

Lowndes made a perfect start from second on the grid, and was nearly one second ahead of pole-sitting teammate Jamie Whincup into Turn 1. This allowed Lowndes onto the optimal fuel strategy as teams were forced to split strategies to avoid stacking their cars in the pits during cautions.

Lowndes led through both cycles of pitstops and produced a succession of fastest laps to build up an unbeatable gap to Whincup in a perfect drive for his 39th V8 Supercars victory.

Whincup brought the second Triple Eight car home in second after running a different strategy to Lowndes, pitting early and running a long second stint. Second place completed a fantastic weekend for the reigning champion after his double win on Saturday.

Holden Racing Team's James Courtney rounded out the podium spots as he stole third at mid-race from Scott McLaughlin in the GRM-run Polestar Volvo.

Will Davison in the Erebus Mercedes ended up fourth after a battle with a late charging Fabian Coulthard that was only decided on the last lap. Coulthard ran a long first and second stint but could not take advantage of his newer tires.

McLaughlin showed impressive pace early on, dicing with Whincup for second until a long pit stop on lap 44 put the Kiwi into a battle for fourth. A clash with Courtney at Turn 1 put the tracking of the Volvo out of line, and left McLaughlin wondering what could have been in sixth.

Race two runner-up Mark Winterbottom sneaked into the top 10 in ninth after a long first pit stop allowed the Ford Performance Racing Driver to take less fuel at the last stop and jump places from his 13th starting spot.

Originally on Autosport.com