Scott McLaughlin grabbed a second victory of the Phillip Island V8 Supercars weekend when Garth Tander ran out of fuel within sight of the line in race three.

Fuel mileage was a concern for the whole field in the longer-distance race, and Tander’s Holden Racing Team Commodore got through the final corner of the race before coughing and slowing. Until then, Tander seemed to have broken McLaughlin’s challenge.

Tander had followed the Volvo past poleman Jamie Whincup when McLaughlin muscled his way into the lead on a spectacular opening lap, then leapfrogged ahead when they made their first pit stops.

McLaughlin charged back at Tander in the closing stages, trying multiple passing moves before a slight error with three laps to go gave Tander what appeared to be sufficient breathing space. That all changed as they accelerated towards the chequered flag, though Tander was still able to cross the line second.

Champion Whincup fell to fourth behind Mark Winterbottom during the second pitstops and was unable to get back on the podium despite his best efforts.

Shane van Gisbergen completed the top five, with Will Davison sixth in the Erebus Mercedes after being delayed in a congested pitlane as the second round of stops took place under a safety car.

Whincup’s Triple Eight teammate Craig Lowndes started only 15th, pitted for a fuel top-up at the end of lap one, lost more ground when he had to queue behind Whincup during the safety car pit stops, and eventually made it through to 10th.

RESULTS – 45 LAPS:

LEADING CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER 35 OF 37 RACES:

Originally on Autosport.com