Queensland-based driver Scott McLaughlin has taken his first V8 SuperTourers victory in the Mike Pero 250 at Hampton Downs today.
After taking pole earlier in the day, the Supercheap Auto Commodore driver lead all bar one of the race’s 20 laps after making a small error on the first lap. He recovered to take a convincing race win, setting the fastest lap time of the race.
Andy Booth took advantage of McLaughlin’s nervous start and led the opening lap, before McLaughlin executed a pass on Lap 2 for a lead that he would not surrender.
Booth finished a solid second, holding off a fast finishing Jonny Reid, who banked a bunch of points towards his title lead.
Local hero Greg Murphy fought back from a poor qualifying session to take fourth, while John McIntyre was fifth, despite a last lap clash with Andy Knight. Knight fell down the order finished the race in ninth place.
Kayne Scott finished sixth ahead of Paul Manuell, Andre Heimgartner, Knight and Steven Richards.
Debutants Angus Fogg and Daniel Gaunt ran together in the race before contact spun Foggy to the back of the grid and earned Gaunt a drive through penalty in the Tasman Motorsports car. They brought up the rear of the field in 13th and 14th.
Races 2 and 3 will be held at Hampton Downs tomorrow.
Results, Race 1
| Pos | No. | Name | Laps | Total time | Diff | Best time | In lap | Best speed |
| 1 | 93 | Scott McLaughlin | 20 | 21:40.491 | 1:04.232 | 7 | 147.403 | |
| 2 | 23 | Andy Booth | 20 | 21:43.209 | 2.718 | 1:04.521 | 7 | 146.743 |
| 3 | 2 | Jonny Reid | 20 | 21:44.110 | 3.619 | 1:04.549 | 14 | 146.679 |
| 4 | 51 | Greg Murphy | 20 | 21:45.848 | 5.357 | 1:04.581 | 4 | 146.607 |
| 5 | 47 | John McIntyre | 20 | 21:53.583 | 13.092 | 1:04.937 | 10 | 145.803 |
| 6 | 99 | Kayne Scott | 20 | 21:55.908 | 15.417 | 1:04.847 | 9 | 146.005 |
| 7 | 15 | Paul Manuell | 20 | 21:56.108 | 15.617 | 1:04.905 | 7 | 145.875 |
| 8 | 22 | Andre Heimgartner | 20 | 21:56.370 | 15.879 | 1:04.934 | 9 | 145.810 |
| 9 | 5 | Andy Knight | 20 | 22:00.120 | 19.629 | 1:04.790 | 11 | 146.134 |
| 10 | 556 | Steven Richards | 20 | 22:00.479 | 19.988 | 1:04.678 | 18 | 146.387 |
| 11 | 69 | Eddie Bell | 20 | 22:04.372 | 23.881 | 1:05.130 | 5 | 145.371 |
| 12 | 12 | Geoff Emery | 20 | 22:04.918 | 24.427 | 1:04.979 | 18 | 145.709 |
| 13 | 247 | Angus Fogg | 20 | 22:24.078 | 43.587 | 1:05.159 | 4 | 145.306 |
| 14 | 31 | Daniel Gaunt | 20 | 22:27.383 | 46.892 | 1:04.860 | 20 | 145.976 |
| Not classified (75% = 15 Laps) | ||||||||
| 15 | 96 | Ant Pedersen | 11 | 12:03.400 | 9 Laps | 1:04.672 | 9 | 146.400 |
| 16 | 10 | Richard Moore | 0 | 4.240 | 20 Laps | –:–:–.— | 0 | – |
| 17 | 27 | Craig Baird | 0 | 4.532 | 0.292 | –:–:–.— | 0 | – |
