Chaz Mostert held his nerve to hold off Scott McLaughlin in a grandstand finish to Race 16 at the Coates Hire Ipswich Super Sprint.

The Supercheap Auto driver had assumed a healthy lead after the second round of pit stops only for his advantage to be was wiped when the Safety Car was deployed late on for debris, due to punctures for James Courtney and Nick Percat.

Mostert came under heavy pressure from the DJR Team Penske Ford of McLaughlin, but he managed to hold on to score his second win of the season.

McLaughlin was forced to keep an eye on his mirrors in the final laps to defend from a charging Shane van Gisbergen (Red Bull Holden), who disposed of Fabian Coulthard (DJRTP) and Jamie Whincup (Red Bull Holden) shortly after the race restarted.

In the end, McLaughlin came home in second from van Gisbergen, while Whincup, who held second for long periods, settled for fourth ahead of Coulthard.

McLaughlin has extended his championship lead to 129 points over Whincup.

Mostert reacted best to the start allowing the Ford driver to leap into the lead while pole-sitter McLaughlin dropped to fourth after a sluggish getaway.

Whincup slotted into second, Coulthard jumped to third as Mark Winterbottom held fifth from van Gisbergen and Craig Lowndes.

The top four quickly began to pull away from the field with McLaughlin hassling Coulthard for third.

While appearing faster than his team-mate, McLaughlin ducked into the pits on lap 11 for his first stop followed by leader Mostert and Whincup a lap later.

Whincup managed to jump Mostert in the pits after taking on less fuel than his rivals.

The pair emerged ahead of McLaughlin as Coulthard inherited the lead from Winterbottom.

Winterbottom was next to pit taking on 58 litres of fuel, significantly more than the rest of the front runners.

He was soon followed by leader Coulthard, van Gisbergen and Lowndes.

Whincup assumed the lead once the the first round of stops were completed with Mostert second and McLaughlin third, while Percat jumped up to fourth ahead of Coulthard.

Winterbottom found himself in sixth while van Gisbergen and Lowndes rejoined in the top 10.

There was plenty of action further down the field as Will Davison suffered an off at Turn 3 due to a left front puncture, while the Nissans of Michael Caruso and Jack Le Brocq collided on the exit of Turn 2.

Damage incurred to the Altimas forced the duo out of the race.

Meanwhile, Van Gisbergen, with Lowndes in tow, continued their charge climbing up to seventh and eighth as Winterbottom dropped to ninth.

Race leader Whincup was the first to blink from the lead group as he took service on lap 35 with Mostert following suit.

Requiring less fuel, Mostert jumped Whincup in the pits for the effective lead.

McLaughlin pitted a lap later rejoining in third, while Coulthard retained fourth after his second stop.

One the second stops had shaken out a three way fight for the victory developed involving Mostert, McLaughlin and Whincup.

Whincup came under intense pressure from the Shell Ford before succumbing at Turn 6 as Mostert scampered into a 2.7s lead with 16 laps remaining.

Further back van Gisbergen, armed with fresher rubber, charged to fifth after passes on Lowndes, Todd Kelly and Winterbottom.

Mostert’s lead was wiped out following the deployment of the Safety Car due to debris on track caused by front left punctures for Courtney (at Turn 1) and seventh placed Percat (at Turn 3).

Tyre dramas befell Will Davison, who joined the list of retirements with a mystery issue causing two front left tyres to fail.

Mostert coped admirably with the pressure to hold off McLaughlin to take the win, while van Gisbergen charged to third following a succession of slick passes in the final eight laps.

Lowndes came home in sixth ahead of Tim Slade, Cameron Waters, David Reynolds and Winterbottom, who rounded out the top 10.

Todd Hazelwood emerged as the top wildcard finisher in 18th spot following a dramatic late race fight through the field.

The championship resumes at the Red Rooster Sydney Super Sprint from August 18-20.

Results: Virgin Australia Supercars Championship: Coates Hire Ipswich Super Sprint: Race 16

Championship points