Defending Australian supercars champion Scott McLaughlin has picked up from where he left off last season, coming away from this year's first round in Adealide atop the championship points table.
Scott McLaughlin Photo: Photosport
McLaughlin won Sunday's race after finishing second on Saturday.
Fellow New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen appeared on track to win after starting Sunday's 78-lap affair from pole and led for most of the race but had to make an extra late pit stop because his Commodore was running low on fuel.
Returning to the track, van Gisbergen spun out with four laps to go and tumbled to the back of the field.
It was McLaughlin's 44th race win and he concedes luck was on his side.
"Full credit to Shane and his team, but he really should've won that race," he said.
"They (Red Bull) had the faster car. We've got to take the luck when we can.
"But just really happy for all the Ford fans out there to get a win today on a pretty big weekend for Holden but for Ford to win is awesome."
After looking shaky early in the weekend, McLaughlin leaves the first round of the season atop the championship points table after finishing second on Saturday.
Whincup dedicated his 119th career victory to everyone devastated by Monday's Holden announcement to shut down by the end of the year.
-Reuters
