V8 Supercars: Van Gisbergen/Webb take Surfers win

Shane van Gisbergen and Jonathon Webb took victory in the opening V8 Supercars race at Surfers Paradise, getting the better of Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell in a strategic battle.

Scott McLaughlin led the opening part of the race, quickly dispatching poleman Webb at the restart after an early safety car period caused by a startline clash between Greg Murphy and David Russell.

• VIDEO: Race 1 highlights

• A lap of the circuit with David Reynolds

One of four series regulars to start the race, McLaughlin opted for an unconventional strategy by handing his Volvo over to Alex Premat relatively early on – passing the lead to Dumbrell, who had demoted Webb a few laps after the restart.

A strong opening stint by Dumbrell allowed Whincup to take over the Triple Eight Holden close behind Premat, and with fresher tires, the reigning champion cruised up to the Frenchman's bumper before inevitably forcing his way past into the lead.

Premat began to slip down the order on worn rubber as Whincup stretched his legs at the head of the field, only to have his lead negated by a second safety car, brought out when David Reynolds understeered his Rod Nash Ford into the barriers after heavily clouting a curb.

The leading runners – including van Gisbergen, who took over from Webb in the first round of stops – all took the chance to pit, with the crucial exception of Whincup, who was forced to build up his advantage once again before making his final stop.

Predictably, it wasn't enough to prevent van Gisbergen holding the lead after the Tekno Holden driver's third stop, the New Zealander duly edging away from Whincup to take a fourth win of the season by 2.2 seconds.

A late front-left puncture for Garth Tander appeared to gift Tim Slade the final podium spot, but he was rapidly reeled in by Mark Winterbottom and Michael Caruso in the closing stages. The trio ran nose to tail for the final lap, with Winterbottom edging his way past Slade on the drag to the line after nudging the Walkinshaw Holden wide at the final corner.

The Ford Performance Racing man was nonetheless demoted a position by the stewards shortly afterwards allowing Slade to complete an all-Holden podium ahead of Winterbottom, top Nissan driver Caruso and Chaz Mostert's Ford.

The McLaughlin/Premat Volvo finished seventh, their alternative strategy not working out as hoped, while Craig Lowndes dropped out of the podium fight after making a lengthy unscheduled stop with 20 laps to go having reported steering trouble.

RESULTS - 102 LAPS: