Motorsport: Tander claims impressive V8 win

Garth Tander from the Toll Holden Racing Holden celebrates after winning race 14 for round seven of the V8 Supercar. Photo / Getty Images

Holden's Garth Tander has won Saturday's V8 Supercar race in Townsville with a composed display.

In a massive boost for Tander's Holden Racing Team, the 34-year-old capped off a great few weeks personally following the birth of his first child and signing a new three-year deal with the Holden factory team, to finish ahead of championship leader Jamie Whincup.

Ford's Will Davison held off a fast-finishing Craig Lowndes to claim third with team-mate and pole holder Mark Winterbottom coming in fifth.

The victory moves Tander to 49 career race wins and lifts him to third on the all-time personal race wins ahead of Holden legend Peter Brock.

The Holden ace took control of the race going into the final third and was never challenged by trailing Whincup, as he blasted to victory.

But it was a different story for his team-mate James Courtney.

The defending series champion's horror year continued after a collision with early race leader David Reynolds damaged his car and forced him to retire with just 30 of the race's 72 laps completed.

The Townsville 400 concludes on Sunday with another 200km race at the 2.86km Reid Park street circuit.

- AAP