Motorsport: Whincup wins in Townsville

Garth Tander drives the Toll Holden Team Holden. Photo / Getty Images

Holden star Jamie Whincup's quest to regain his V8 Supercars championship moved another step closer with victory in Sunday's 200km race in Townsville.

Whincup overcame an eighth place start and having to pit early with worn soft tyres but guided his Commodore to the front for his sixth win of the year.

Teammate Craig Lowndes, 186 points behind Whincup in the title standings, started from pole and led for the early laps but wasn't able to hold off the two-time champion.

Ford's Mark Winterbottom finished a distant third, leading home a trio of Falcons with Alex Davison fourth and young New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen fifth.

Saturday's race winner, Garth Tander, was unable to replicate his heroics as Holden Racing Team endured another tough day out.

Tander limped over the line 26th after his rear suspension failed midway through the race and caused a lengthy spell in the HRT garage.

Defending champion James Courtney started brightly from 12th and was running as high as fourth but received a drive-through penalty which ended his surge and resulted in a 19th place finish.

The next round of the championship is the Ipswich 300 at Queensland Raceway from August 19-21.

- AAP