The dramatic climax to the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship captured the nation’s attention producing social media engagement which overshadowed the Ashes Series.

Last Sunday’s edge of the seat Supercars title decider drew massive social media interaction as fans followed the twist and turns in the title fight between Red Bull Holden Racing Team’s Jamie Whincup and Shell V-Power Racing’s Scott McLaughlin at Newcastle.

Figures, calculated by market research firm Nielsen, have revealed that Sunday’s race, broadcast live on Network Ten and Fox Sports, produced 298,500 social media interactions, surpassing the numbers attributed for each day of cricket’s Ashes first test.

The opening day of the Ashes Series at The Gabba proved the most popular on social media resulting in 286,400 engagements.

Supercars also enjoyed sizeable audiences on television topping the subscription TV figures on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the coverage of the season finale proved to be Network Ten’s biggest hit that day with 298,000 tuning in.

It also proved to be one of the biggest weeks in the history of Speedcafe.com which saw more than a million page views over a seven day period.

The figures arrive off the back of a strong inaugural Coates Hire Newcastle 500 saw 192,000 fans through the gates during the three days of competition.