Fabian Coulthard has given DJR Team Penske its third win in as many races in the Supercars Challenge at Albert Park.
Coulthard repeated his Race 2 performance in leading from start to finish in the #12 Shell V-Power Falcon, managing the margin to win by 0.8s in the 13-lap heat.
Jamie Whincup split the DJRTP duo of Coulthard and Scott McLaughlin, denying the team a third straight one-two.
While Coulthard pulled clear from the rolling start, Whincup did well to slot into second amid contact from both McLaughlin and Chaz Mostert.
The Red Bull HRT Commodore was more competitive than he had been in the earlier encounters and Whincup gradually pulled away from McLaughlin.
He closed in on Coulthard towards the end of the race but was never a serious threat.
Mostert, James Courtney, David Reynolds, Michael Caruso, Will Davison, James Moffat, and Shane van Gisbergen rounded out the top 10.
After starting 23rd due to an off in qualifying, van Gisbergen made up a full dozen positions on the first lap, before inheriting 10th after Rick Kelly pitted with a puncture.
Van Gisbergen does however face a post-race investigation for an opening lap incident with Todd Kelly.
Meanwhile, Rick Kelly would return to the pits for good with two laps remaining and was not classified as a finisher.
While the front of the race was somewhat processional, there was plenty of bump and grind in the pack.
Tim Slade rubbed panels with Cameron Waters multiple times before finally making the move, eventually finishing 13th.
Waters then had more contact with Slade’s Brad Jones Racing team-mate Tim Blanchard, inviting Jason Bright and Dale Wood to join the scrap.
Garth Tander failed to finish after a messy first-corner incident which saw he and Jason Bright spin.
The matter will be subject to a post-race investigation.
24 cars took the start after yesterday’s crash sidelined Nick Percat and Lee Holdsworth.
The final race of the weekend will be held tomorrow at 1305 AEDT.
Results: Virgin Australia Supercars, Race Three – Australian Grand Prix, 25 March 2017:
| 1 | Shell V-Power Racing Team | Fabian Coulthard | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:56.6730* |
| 2 | Red Bull Holden Racing Aust | Jamie Whincup | Holden Commodore VF | 1:57.0957 |
| 3 | Shell V-Power Racing Team | Scott McLaughlin | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:57.1121 |
| 4 | Supercheap Auto Racing | Chaz Mostert | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:56.9200 |
| 5 | Mobil 1 HSV Racing | James Courtney | Holden Commodore VF | 1:56.8976 |
| 6 | Erebus Penrite Racing | David Reynolds | Holden Commodore VF | 1:57.1755 |
| 7 | Nissan Motorsport | Michael Caruso | Nissan Altima | 1:57.2872 |
| 8 | TEKNO Woodstock Racing | Will Davison | Holden Commodore VF | 1:57.4200 |
| 9 | Wilson Security Racing GRM | James Moffat | Holden Commodore VF | 1:57.6197 |
| 10 | Red Bull Holden Racing Aust | Shane Van Gisbergen | Holden Commodore VF | 1:57.7313 |
| 11 | carsales Racing | Todd Kelly | Nissan Altima | 1:57.6540 |
| 12 | The Bottle-O Racing Team | Mark Winterbottom | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:57.8921 |
| 13 | Freightliner Racing | Tim Slade | Holden Commodore VF | 1:57.7151 |
| 14 | TeamVortex | Craig Lowndes | Holden Commodore VF | 1:57.9908 |
| 15 | Monster Energy Racing | Cameron Waters | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:58.0328 |
| 16 | Erebus GB Galvanizing Racing | Dale Wood | Holden Commodore VF | 1:58.2424 |
| 17 | MEGA Racing | Jason Bright | Ford Falcon FG/X | 1:58.0534 |
| 18 | Team CoolDrive | Tim Blanchard | Holden Commodore VF | 1:57.9585 |
| 19 | Team Harvey Norman | Simona De Silvestro | Nissan Altima | 1:58.3789 |
| 20 | LD Motorsport | Taz Douglas | Holden Commodore VF | 1:59.2625 |
| 21 | LD Motorsport | Alex Rullo | Holden Commodore VF | 2:00.5230 |
| 22 | Mobil 1 HSV Racing | Scott Pye | Holden Commodore VF | 1:58.5265 |
| DNF | Sengled Racing | Rick Kelly | Nissan Altima | 1:58.0075 |
| DNF | Wilson Security Racing GRM | Garth Tander | Holden Commodore VF |
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