V8 Supercar: Bright wins Pukekohe opener

Jason Bright took his first V8 Supercars win in 12 months as he triumphed in the opening race of the Pukekohe quadruple-header.

Polesitter Bright was comfortably beaten away by champion Jamie Whincup at the lights, but the Triple Eight Holden struck power steering issues at one-third distance, slewing off the road and then pitting.

Brad Jones Holden driver Bright then kept Shane van Gisbergen's Tekno Holden at bay to end a victory drought that stretched back to the 2013 event at the New Zealand track.

Championship leader Craig Lowndes was third despite shooting down the chicane escape road late in the race. James Courtney, Will Davison and Nick Percat completed the top six.

Mark Winterbottom, winner of the previous race at Winton, was seventh until a spin in the closing laps put him down to 13th and meant Ford had no cars in the top dozen.

The race ran to the 40-minute time limit after a long early safety car period, triggered by David Wall crashing at the final corner in a clash with Chaz Mostert.

Originally on Autosport.com