Monster Energy Racing’s Cameron Waters has converted pole to race victory despite the race being stopped due to an incident on the opening lap taking out a number of entries.
Waters held off Shell V-Power Racing’s Will Davison as Repco Supercars Championship leader Shane van Gisbergen did likewise for the final podium slot from Anton De Pasquale and a closing David Reynolds due to fitting four tyres on at his stop.
However, as soon as the race had started it was under a red flag by Turn 6 when contact in the mid-pack sent James Courtney across the infield, into the tyre wall and leaving the stricken Tickford Racing Ford Mustang on the exit of the hairpin.
Further contact was made with Nulon’s Scott Pye and Castrol Tickford teammate Thomas Randle rendering all three as retirements, while Todd Hazelwood was also involved though continued.
The stoppage also forced a time certain finish as the distance was cut by one lap.
Waters and Davison battled all race, as Reynolds had dropped position to the latter before the race was neutralised and now had van Gisbergen to worry about.
Another challenger to emerge was Truck Assist Racing’s Jack Le Brocq using an undercut strategy as he tried unsuccessfully to hold the leaders out.
Reynolds and Grove Racing gambled fitting four tyres, as he emerged ninth setting up a charge through the field to finish fifth.
Towards the end, van Gisbergen struggled to keep pace with the leading two and fell into the clutches of Anton De Pasquale, with Reynolds closing in.
But this was how the positions stayed as Waters held a 0.61s margin across the line from Davison, van Gisbergen, De Pasquale and Reynolds.
Rounding out the top 10 was Le Brocq from Mark Winterbottom, Chaz Mostert, Andre Heimgartner and Nick Percat.
With one race to go this weekend, van Gisbergen has extended his championship margin to 278 from De Pasquale.
The final event at 3:25pm ACST (3:55pm AEST).