McLaughlin takes first points race win for Volvo

Scott McLaughlin scored Volvo’s first V8 Supercars Championship race victory in an impressive show of speed and consistency at Barbagallo.

The victory follows McLaughlin’s non-championship race win for the Swedish marque at Albert Park in March, and came after the S60’s fourth pole position of the year.

The 42 lap encounter was typically dominated by tyre longevity on the abrasive Barbagallo surface, with pitstop timing crucial.

McLaughlin surrendered the lead to fellow front-row starter Craig Lowndes off the line, before losing further position to Russell Ingall as he battled Fabian Coulthard on the opening lap.

The Volvo package soon proved superior, however, with McLaughlin cutting through to the lead as the pitstops started just prior to half distance.

Running sixth and ninth respective in the early going, Will Davison and Mark Winterbottom were among the first to pit; subsequently emerging from the pitstop cycle ahead of the Volvo.

McLaughlin overtook both rivals on Lap 24 of 42 before making short work Jack Perkins and Shane van Gisbergen – the only two drivers that elected to go through without a stop.

Fabian Coulthard was one of the last front-runners to pit, allowing the Lockwood Holden to climb from ninth to second across the final 14 circuits.

Chaz Mostert likewise used his marginally fresher tyres to overtake team-mate Winterbottom for third in the dying laps.

Lee Holdsworth, Craig Lowndes, Will Davison, Todd Kelly, James Courtney and David Reynolds completed the top 10.

Third-placed qualifier Ingall plummeted from third to 10th over the space of just four laps midway through the first stint, with his Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport Holden proving brutal on its tyres.

The 2005 champion eventually steadied to finish 11th.

Jack Perkins – who had started last – bravely held on with his old tyres to finish 12th, while Van Gisbergen dropped all the way to the back.

A second 100km encounter will take place later this afternoon, with McLaughlin set to start second to Craig Lowndes.

Volvo’s impressive Barbagallo form comes in the first event since the implementation of engine regulation changes that were triggered by the early-season speed of the S60.

See below for the full race result for Race 14