20 May 2018

All Kiwi podium in Supercars

5:56 pm on 20 May 2018

Australian Supercars championship leader Scott McLaughlin has been upstaged by teammate Fabian Coulthard in the second race of the Winton Supersprint.

The Ford pair started the 67-lap affair on the front row, but McLaughlin almost stalled his start to immediately slip back from pole to eighth.

Fabian Coulthard.

Fabian Coulthard. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Coulthard didn't have to do anything drastic from there as he cantered to the 10th win of his career.

The 35-year-old crossed the line almost 11 seconds ahead of Holden speedster Shane van Gisbergen, who claimed another crucial podium in second by backing up his third on Saturday.

It was Coulthard's first victory since triumphing during the Sydney round in August last year, with his best previous result this season being two thirds in Melbourne.

"It was fantastic. I can't thank my guys enough," said Coulthard, who became the eighth different winner in 14 races during 2018.

"The Shell V-Power car was on rails today; it was a pleasure to drive.

He is the eighth different driver to win a race this year from 14 starts.

A calculated early pit stop from McLaughlin allowed him to regain composure as he recovered ground to remarkably finish third.

But the 24-year-old will enter the four-week break bitterly disappointed after not converting two poles at Winton.

After an emotional drought-breaking win during the first race at the Victorian circuit, Nissan veteran Rick Kelly did enough to finish fourth in front of teammate Michael Caruso to round out the top-five.

McLaughlin still leads the Championship from van Gisbergen.

-AAP