Motorsport: Van Gisbergen extends lead after another win

Shane Van Gisbergen won today's race at the Gold Coast 600 to extend his lead in the Supercars championship standings. Photo / Edge Photographics.

This time nothing could stop Red Bull Racing from savouring Supercars victory - not even another dreaded time penalty.

RBR's Shane van Gisbergen has bolstered his hopes of a maiden Supercars title by claiming the opening Gold Coast 600 race on Saturday.

The Supercars series leader had to do it the hard way, overcoming co-driver Alex Premat's 10 second pit lane penalty midway through the race for a safety car infringement.
He finished ahead of Volvo's Scott McLaughlin and Holden star Jamie Whincup.

It was a shot in the arm for RBR after a time penalty sabotaged their recent Bathurst 1000 campaign.

RBR's Whincup crossed the line first at Mount Panorama, only to be relegated to 11th by a late 15 second time penalty.

RBR received plenty of flak for appealing the Bathurst result, even copping it from Supercars boss James Warburton, who described it as "un-Australian".

However, there were no complaints after van Gisbergen's dominant win which extended his series lead to 160 over Whincup ahead of Sunday's final 300km race.

When van Gisbergen served the 10 second pit lane penalty, it bumped him from first to 10th with 39 laps left in the opening race.

However, the flying Kiwi showed blistering speed to maintain his Midas touch on the concrete wall-lined street circuit.

To date van Gisbergen has snared three wins, five podiums and three poles on the tourist strip.

He will be in the box seat to claim a maiden Supercars title with more success on the concrete wall-lined street circuit this weekend.

Van Gisbergen is also looking good for the Enduro Cup which will be decided at the Gold Coast - the third and final endurance round of the year.

Mount Panorama champions Will Davison and Jonathon Webb failed to back up their upset win on the mountain, finishing 16th after copping an early pit lane penalty for their role in a turn four pileup that cost Nissan's Russell Ingall and Holden's Craig Baird.

Overall, five cars failed to finish in the 26-strong field including Ford hope Fabian Coulthard.

He was involved in a spectacular 265kph late crash after tangling with Holden's Garth Tander, who copped a pit lane penalty and will drop back 10 spots on the grid for Sunday's final 300km race.