V8 Supercars: Coulthard dominates Winton race one

Fabian Coulthard scored his first win of the V8 Supercars season after a dominant display in the first race of the Winton weekend.

The in-form Kiwi, who smashed the old qualifying lap record to claim pole position, made a great getaway off the line and held off fellow countryman Shane van Gisbergen and current championship leader Craig Lowndes.

Coulthard then began to pull away from the chasing pack and was the best part of three seconds ahead before the safety car was deployed on lap 16 of 34 because of Scott McLaughlin's stricken Volvo.

The race resumed three laps later before two incidents involving Chaz Mostert, Tim Slade and James Courtney, and then rookie Nick Percat and David Reynolds at Turns 2 and 7, respectively. Those melees resulted in the second safety car period which lasted until lap 22, but it was not long until it was back out again when Todd Kelly came to a halt at Turn 3.

The final 10 laps were uninterrupted, however, and Coulthard managed to retain his lead until the finish to claim his first win of the season.

Van Gisbergen held off surprise qualifying star Dale Wood who put in an exceptional effort to start and finish third. The 2013 Dunlop Series champion fended off Jason Bright and Lee Holdsworth in the closing moments of the race, while Will Davidson had Mark Winterbottom ever present in his mirrors.

Winterbottom had a disastrous qualifying session and started 24th, but he managed to pick his way through the field and also benefitted from the mid-race scuffles to take seventh.

Lowndes' charge fizzled out in the closing laps and he eventually finished eighth, ahead of Triple Eight teammate Jamie Whincup who was rather anonymous throughout the race.

Originally on Autosport.com