Coulthard leads another one-two finish for Penske Team

Coulthard and McLaughlin celebrate their 1-2

Shell V-Power Racing’s Fabian Coulthard and Scott McLaughlin claimed their third 1-2 of the season at the CrownBet Triple Crown in Darwin, continuing their red letter run in this year’s Supercars Championship.

The pair capitalized on strategy and the misfortunes of others to take a stranglehold on the race and strengthen Coulthard’s Championship lead. Brad Jones Racing’s Nick Percat grabbed the sixth podium of his career with third.

An early pit stop strategy won the race for Coulthard while McLachlin and Percat made gains from a jammed accelerator for ARMOR ALL pole sitter Rick Kelly and a right rear puncture for Red Bull Holden Racing Team’s Shane van Gisbergen.

Coulthard’s first Darwin win and third of the year extended his Championship lead on Red Bull Holden Racing Team’s Jamie Whincup to 34 points and 40 points to McLaughlin. Van Gisbergen’s drama-charged race meant he remains in fourth but dropped to 187 points behind, from 37.

With victory coming only days after Coulthard and his partner Becky Lamb announced they were expecting twins later this year, it made for the perfect week for the Kiwi.

“I couldn’t ask for much more. It’s going to be a big year so hopefully we can finish it off in the right style," Coulthard said.

Kelly started from ARMOR ALL pole position and got a great start and despite pressure on the outside from Erebus Penrite Racing’s David Reynolds, who also had a great jump, at the first corner held the lead.

McLaughlin tried the same move on the second lap by going wide around Kelly and looked close to planting his Falcon in front but dropped a wheel in the dirt and ran off, dropping four places.

“That was a massive brain fart by me," McLaughlin said. “I was trying to hang it on the cush there and it didn’t work but I got away with it. Well done to Fabian, another 1-2 which is great for the guys and for those at home. Moving forward I am very excited."

Coulthard and McLaughlin lead

Coulthard’s team played their hand early by using their pit stop at the first available opportunity for a long run to the finish line. Kelly stayed out as he began pulling away from Reynolds, coming in on lap 10. Coulthard’s strategy worked a treat as he easily went past Kelly and into the lead.

The race turned on its head when Van Gisbergen blew a right rear tyre when he, having not stopped, was the race leader. On the same lap Kelly suffered a jammed throttle and slammed into a tyre wall, forcing a safety car and ending his race.

Van Gisbergen’s fortunes took another hit just three laps from the end when he got tangled up with Wilson Security Racing’s Garth Tander and suffered terminal damage. It also heavily damaged his Championship position

Click here for full results from today’s race.

Earlier, Kelly grabbed ARMOR ALL pole position, shutting out the big guns at the same track his team-mate Michael Caruso took victory last year.

Two years after he scored a Nissan front row start in 2015, Kelly set his time early in the session on just his second lap in the Sengled Altima and it was only McLaughlin who looked like topping him until a very small mistake on his final flying lap.

It was Kelly’s second pole position in Darwin on the track he took race victories at in 2004 and 2011.

Qualifying, a Top Ten Shootout and a 200km race will be held tomorrow.

Fabian Coulthard – No. 12 Shell V-Power Racing Ford

RECAP: Coulthard started the race from the second row of the grid. He lost one position early, however quickly got it back. The team elected for an early stop on lap 6, taking two right tyres to put Coulthard in clean air in an attempt to undercut the leaders. It worked, and he took the lead following a lap 23 Safety Car restart. He then controlled the race, to finish four-tenths in front of his teammate. He has extended his Championship lead to 34 points over Jamie Whincup.

QUOTE: “The undercut worked brilliantly today. I had Phil telling me he needed three or four of my best laps, and it worked. We jumped Rick (Kelly) and kept Scott behind me as well. It’s a fantastic day again for the team with another 1-2, and I’m so proud to be a part of this incredible team. To also take the team’s first ever win in the Northern Territory is pretty special – it’s been a great year so far."

Scott McLaughlin – No. 17 Shell V-Power Racing Ford

RECAP: McLaughlin started from the front row of the grid, holding the position and racing with then leader Rick Kelly. He tried a move around the outside of turn 1 on lap 2, ran wide and dropped to sixth. He then worked his way back through the pack, taking the safety car restart fourth, before quickly climbing to second where he stayed behind teammate Coulthard to complete a 1-2 for the team. He is now third in the Championship, 40 points behind Coulthard.

QUOTE: “What a great day for the team here in Darwin. I made a bit of a silly error early in the race, and then had to fight back from there. The team gave me a great car, and a great strategy so it was fantastic to be able to deliver another 1-2 to them. Big congrats to Fabs on the win. We’ll have another crack tomorrow and try to do it again."