V8 Supercars: Holdsworth wins for Erebus Mercedes

Lee Holdsworth took his first V8 Supercars victory since the end of the 2010 season, and the first for the Erebus Mercedes project, in the second Winton race.

The Erebus Mercedes driver slotted into third at the start when he beat Shane van Gisbergen off the line and gained a further position on lap 10 when Scott McLaughlin suffered a mechanical issue while leading the race.

Race one winner Fabian Coulthard was promoted to the head of the field as a result and it was a position he held until six laps from the end. The Brad Jones Holden driver began to experience rear tire issues around mid-distance and was eventually passed by Holdsworth at Turn 1, who then went on to give Erebus an untroubled first series win.

Coulthard soon came under attack from Mark Winterbottom who was able to snatch second place with only two laps remaining.

David Reynolds fended off an in-form David Wall to claim fourth, while James Moffat finished ahead of Jason Bright who filtered his way through the field from 13th to finish seventh.

Triple Eight teammates Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes were buried at the back of the grid following a disastrous qualifying session.

The pair started 21st and 23rd and failed to make an impression in the race, with Lowndes coming home 16th and Whincup 19th, just ahead of van Gisbergen who struggled for grip and dropped down the order.

Originally on Autosport.com