Scott McLaughlin continues Mustang’s unbeaten Supercars charge with a win at Symmons Plains

Showing his new Ford would not be wounded by enforced centre of gravity changes, Scott McLaughlin has continued the Mustang’s unbeaten Supercars charge with a win at Symmons Plains.

Mark Winterbottom will take pole position for Sunday’s Supersprint race at Symmons Plains. Picture: Getty Images

Ford star Scott McLaughlin has continued the Mustang’s unbeaten Supercars charge this year after leading home a DJR Team Penske one-two at Symmons Plains.

Showing the new Ford machine would not be wounded by enforced centre of gravity changes, McLaughlin stormed to his sixth race win this season - and the Mustang’s seventh - after taking out the race from teammate Fabian Coulthard and Red Bull Holden Racing Team’s Shane van Gisbergen.

Despite battling illness, McLaughlin pushed on to claim his maiden race win at Symmons Plains and the Mustang’s first victory at the Tasmanian track since Allan Moffat in 1972.

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The win extends McLaughlin’s lead in the Supercars championship after his closest rival, Red Bull Holden Racing Team’s Jamie Whincup, had a day to forget at the track where he boasts more wins than any other driver.

The defending Supercars champion, who had led Whincup by 31 points, now has a 135-point buffer over Tickford Racing’s Chaz Mostert.

Starting second on the grid behind Holden’s Mark Winterbottom, McLaughlin got the jump on the new Team 18 driver off the start and was not challenged from there in the 50-lap race.

Scott McLaughlin celebrates his win at Symmons Plains with Fabian Coulthard (2nd) and Shane Van Gisbergen (3rd). Picture: Chris Kidd

“It’s a great job for everyone at Shell V Power Racing to go one-two, (it’s) awesome,’’ McLaughlin said.

“I’ll have a good sleep tonight and watch a bit of the footy and try and come back stronger myself tomorrow.

“That one’s for Ford fans and all our team. We have worked hard behind the scenes and there’s been a ot of stuff thrown at us, but we just fight on and we’re a strong group.”

Earlier, Winterbottom claimed his first pole position in 1000 days - and his first as a Holden driver - after edging out McLaughlin in qualifying.

It was Winterbottom’s first pole position since July, 2016, in Townsville when he was a Ford driver.

Winterbottom was heading for a podium finish behind McLaughlin and Coulthard but was denied when he was overtaken by van Gisbergen late in the race.

Mark Winterbottom reacts after taking pole position. Picture: Getty Images

Van Gisbergen joked he had felt a bit like a “burglar” when he passed Winterbottom.

Whincup’s bid to close the gap on McLaughlin in the championship battle was thwarted after he finished last following costly qualifying and race mistakes.

After setting the lap record in practice on Friday, Whincup was forced to start from 15th on the grid after he ran off the track in qualifying.

He then ran into the back of Mostert early in the race, ran off the track again and was forced to the pits to fix wheel damage.

Originally published as Scott McLaughlin continues Mustang’s unbeaten Supercars charge with a win at Symmons Plains