Kiwi Supercars driver Scott McLaughlin has continued where he left off, holding off fast-finishing Shane van Gisbergen to win the first race back from the COVID-19 shutdown at Sydney Motorsport Park.
In their first outing since February, McLaughlin crossed the line 0.180s ahead of compatriot van Gisbergen, reportedly the tightest margin for a Supercars race since 1996.
The Kiwi duo started the 33-lap race on the front row, but McLaughlin hit the front and never looked back.
After a late pit stop, van Gisbergen fell down the order, but although he fought his way back to set up a thrilling finish, he couldn't get past McLaughlin, despite several overtaking attempts.
"He's like a cockroach," McLaughlin says of van Gisbergen. "You can never get rid of him, he's always around.
"I knew I was going to be in a little bit of trouble in that last stint, the way he came at me in the first.
"So we've got a bit of work to do with how we tune it up, but you take them when you can get them."
The win sees McLaughlin extend his lead atop the championship to 47 points ahead of Jamie Whincup, who finished third in Sydney.
Racing resumes on Sunday, with two more 33-lap races.
