SVG scores Holden’s 500th win in Race 4

Shane van Gisbergen chalked up Holden’s 500th ATCC/V8 Supercars race victory in a dominant display for Triple Eight at Symmons Plains.

Van Gisbergen beat home team-mate Jamie Whincup and customer Triple Eight runner Will Davison in the 120km sprint race, taking the championship lead in the process.

Pole-sitter Mark Winterbottom led the early stages but saw his chances of victory evaporate when he overshot the pit box during his stop on lap 8 of 50.

Winterbottom rejoined in a net seventh and, although able to make his way back around a struggling Fabian Coulthard, fell to ninth in the closing stages while fighting those on better rubber.

Seventh-placed starter Whincup meanwhile headed in the opposite direction, taking Rick Kelly and Lee Holdsworth on the opening lap before pitting as soon as the window opened at the end of lap four.

A quick stop and strong pace enabled the six-time champion to emerge from the pitstop cycle with the effective lead of the race.

His advantage didn’t last long, however, with Van Gisbergen pulling off an inside move on his team-mate at the Turn 4 hairpin on lap 18.

Van Gisbergen had earlier made a clean move on his other team-mate Lowndes for second in the opening laps, underlining the blistering form he showed at Albert Park two weeks ago.

The Kiwi slid his way to the flag a second clear of Whincup, who found himself fending off a fast-finishing Davison.

Lowndes had appeared on course for third after the stops but lost positions to Davison and an impressive Rick Kelly in the closing stages.

Brad Jones Racing went long on strategy, subsequently allowing drivers Jason Bright and Tim Slade to charge through to sixth and eighth respectively while on fresh rubber.

Cameron Waters split the duo in seventh, while Prodrive team-mate’s Winterbottom and Chaz Mostert were ninth and 10th respectively.

Coulthard plummeted to an eventual 18th as he struggled with brakes on his Ford, four places behind DJR Team Penske team-mate Scott Pye.

Lee Holdsworth failed to repeat his fourth place qualifying result in 12th, while Scott McLaughlin fared worst of all, suffering engine problems from the outset.

The V8 Supercars will return to the track tomorrow for qualifying and the 200km Race 5.

Result: V8 Supercars Tyrepower Tasmania Super Sprint Race 4

Championship Standings