Scott McLaughlin saw off an early challenge from Jamie Whincup to score his fourth victory of the Supercars season at the CrownBet Darwin Triple Crown.

The pole-sitter produced a faultless drive as he managed to overcome a strong challenge from Whincup, who jumped the Kiwi at the start and led the early stages.

An inspired fuel strategy to take on more than Whincup at the first stop coupled with better tyre life paved the way for the win.

McLaughlin faced a possible battle in the final laps from Whincup, armed with fresher rubber, but the New Zealander held firm.

Reigning series champion Shane van Gisbergen claimed third, with championship leader Fabian Coulthard in fourth.

McLaughlin has moved to second in the championship with Coulthard holding a margin of 10 points, with Whincup third just 16 points adrift.

Whincup was the winner from the start as he edged into to the lead, while pole-sitter McLaughlin slotted into second, with Coulthard in third.

Garry Rogers Motorsport’s James Moffat, who started from third, was slow away dropping to sixth, while team-mate Garth Tander was shoved wide on the exit of Turn 1 towards the rear of the field.

McLaughlin immediately attacked Whincup for the lead at Turn 6, touching the rear of the Commodore which maintained its advantage.

Whincup soon began to stretch away from McLaughlin while Coulthard was the first of the leaders to duck into the pits on lap 5, mirroring his strategy from Saturday.

As a result, van Gisbergen occupied third ahead of David Reynolds, Moffat and Prodrive’s Cameron Waters.

McLaughlin began to eat into Whincup’s lead before the latter dived into the pits for his first stop on lap 16.

Whincup rejoined behind Coulthard who made the most of his early stop.

McLaughlin reacted to Whincup’s stop by taking service a lap later, taking on five more litres of fuel than his rival. He rejoined in a net fourth behind Whincup and Reynolds.

Following the shake up of the first stops, Coulthard emerged in a two second lead from Whincup and McLaughlin, who made light work of Reynolds.

Whincup soon reeled in Coulthard before diving underneath the Ford, which provided little resistance at Turn 6, to retake the lead.

Coulthard, on much older rubber, then fell into the clutches of McLaughlin, who breezed by into second.

At the front, McLaughlin began to hassle Whincup while Coulthard made his second stop on lap 33 from third.

He was joined in the lane by van Gisbergen, who managed to jump the fellow Kiwi in the pits.

McLaughlin was the first to blink out of the two leaders as he attempted to undercut Whincup, while further back Coulthard applied pressure on van Gisbergen for a net third.

Reynolds slotted behind the Red Bull Holdens and Shell Fords after his stop.

Triple Eight elected to pit Whincup five laps later than McLaughlin.

McLaughlin assumed the lead by 2.7s with Whincup hoping to make the most of fresh rubber for the final 28 laps.

Meanwhile, a train of cars formed behind van Gisbergen, who continued to hold off Coulthard for third, with Reynolds fifth ahead of Tim Slade, Moffat and Craig Lowndes, who pitted early.

Reynolds was forced to drop his pace due to overheating issues on his Commodore, which allowed Slade through to fifth.

The problem continued to hamper Reynolds’ progress as he dropped to seventh behind Lowndes with Moffat in eighth.

However, Moffat’s hopes for a solid top 10 were dashed when he suffered a right rear puncture with 12 laps remaining, that forced him to the pits.

At the front, Whincup’s tyre gamble failed to provide the required reward as McLaughlin held firm, while van Gisbergen broke away to a comfortable third.

All eyes soon turned to the battle for fourth involving Coulthard, Slade, Lowndes and Reynolds.

Slade bumped the rear of Coulthard at Turn 6 but was unable to find a way through leaving him fifth at the flag.

Lowndes secured sixth ahead of Reynolds while Mobil 1 HSV Racing’s Scott Pye came through from 16th to eighth.

The top 10 was rounded out Waters and Nissan Motorsport’s Rick Kelly.

It proved a difficult day for Prodrive with Mark Winterbottom 14th and Chaz Mostert 17th.

Simona de Silvestro finished last after being issued a 15-second penalty for pitching Dale Wood into a spin at Turn 6 in the final quarter of the race.

Result: Virgin Australia Supercars Championship: CrownBet Darwin Triple Crown: Race 12

Championship points