Matt Campbell has won a fierce opening race of the Carrera Cup on the Gold Coast with Nick Foster also extending his points lead in the championship chase.

Starting third, Campbell made his way into second place by the first chicane getting ahead of Foster and sitting behind pole-sitter David Russell.

Then on the second of 15 laps Russell went wide exiting the turn back of the beach side and Campbell got up the inside. From that point forward he was never headed.

The focus at the front was matched by the charge of defending champion, and main rival to Foster, Steven Richards who was on a charge through the field.

Needing to be within striking distance of Foster, Richards climbed from 10th on the grid to cross the line in fifth place, just two spots behind Foster.

However, his aggression came at a cost with Richards recording nine kerb strikes, four more than the minimum and he was handed a 35-second time penalty placing him back in 12th.

It now means that Foster has a 47.5 points advantage heading into the final two races of the season tomorrow.

In the Tag Heuer Carrera Challenge points leader Shane Smollen took the win, but only after Tony Bates ran wide allowing Stephen Grove through. Then two laps from home Grove spun exiting the chicane on the front straight and Smollen got through to take the win in the semi-professional category.

The Carrera Cup season will be concluded on Sunday with two more races on the Surfers Paradise streets.

VIDEO: Matt Campbell and Shane Smollen speak after the opening Carrera Cup race on the Gold Coast

RESULTS: Carrera Cup Race 1