22 Nov 2015

McLaughlin second again at Phillip Island

5:45 pm on 22 November 2015

Canterbury driver Scott McLaughlin has finished second again at the Phillip Island V8 Supercars event, won by Holden series contender Craig Lowndes.

Scott McLaughlin in action in his Volvo

Scott McLaughlin in action in his Volvo Photo: Photosport

Lowndes' victory again narrows the gap in the overall championship standings to Ford series leader Mark Winterbottom, who started on pole but was just pipped to third place by the reigning champion Jamie Whincup.

There's one Supercars event left in Sydney in two weeks. Only Winterbottom and Lowndes remain in contention after David Reynolds was bumped out of the first race by Auckland's Shane Van Gisbergen.

McLaughlin finished third and second in Saturday's two races at Phillip Island.

Eventful weekend at Phillip Island

Lowndes won the first race before Whincup won the second.

Lowndes also finished third in the second race, to move up to second place on the congested championship standings behind series leader Winterbottom.

In the first race Lowndes started third then overtook both McLaughlin and his own team-mate, the reigning champion pole sitter Jamie Whincup, who finished second.

Van Gisbergen was fourth - but earned the ire of championship contender Reynolds after bumping him in the first lap.

Reynolds, who dropped to third overall after finishing dead last, was filthy afterwards, proclaiming Van Gisbergen a bad driver and saying "He's dead to me."

McLaughlin couldn't capitalise on his pole position for the second race, with Whincup passing the New Zealander from second on the grid to win.

- RNZ