![Image](http://www.swededemon.com/images/polestar/V8SCR13_PHILLIPISLAND400_DKIMG3131-LOW-RES-750x422.jpg)
The Kiwi qualified on pole position for the second race and was entangled in a fight for the lead in all three races with the Red Bull Racing duo of Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup.
The first race saw McLaughlin crossing the line in third position, right behind reigning champion Whincup. McLaughlin made it one spot better in the second race, crossing the line just 1.3 seconds behind Whincup.
The final race of 45 laps had McLaughlin starting from fourth position on the grid. The Volvo driver made a strong start and claimed the lead not long after, a lead he extended to eight seconds at most. A delay in the final pit stop however saw him dropping one place to Lowndes, taking the chequered flag just below two seconds behind the Holden driver.
”I got an awesome start for once and got up the outside of a few other guys. I was able to put a lot of pressure on Mark Winterbottom and we jumped him in the stop. I led the second stint the whole time. Unfortunately we are a fair way down the back of the pit lane and Tander was coming in when I was on my way out. I had to wait for him, it is a tough gig and I feel that probably ruined my race. But overall an awesome day and it is good to have some proper pace,” said McLaughlin.
David Wall had a strong final race at Phillip Island, climbing eight positions from his grid position to finish 15th.
”Finally something that was a bit better. The car was really good in the race, looked after its tyres really well. In general, the strategy was really good. Big thanks to the team, if we had qualified a bit further up it would have been a different story,” said Wall.
The triple podium from the weekend has elevated McLaughlin to eighth position in the drivers’ championship ahead of the final race weekend of 2015 in Sydney on December 5-6th.
”To see Scott securing his and the team’s best weekend of 2015 for the second race in succession is a great feeling. Fingers crossed for him to claim a well deserved victory in the Sydney season finale, the pace is no doubt there for it,” said Christian Dahl of Polestar Cyan Racing.
Phillip Island 400 – V8 Supercars
Circuit: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
Length: 4445 m
Lap record (V8SC): 1:32.0246, Jamie Whincup, 2013
Results
Race 31 – Top 5
1 Craig Lowndes Holden Commodore 14 laps
2 Jamie Whincup Holden Commodore +1.0388
3 Scott McLaughlin Volvo S60 +1.7996
4 Shane van Gisbergen Holden Commodore +9.0226
5 James Moffat Nissan Altima +9.2834
…
23 David Wall Volvo S60 +33.9214
Race 32 – Top 5
1 Jamie Whincup Holden Commodore 14 laps
2 Scott McLaughlin Volvo S60 +1.2981
3 Craig Lowndes Holden Commodore +2.0816
4 Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon +8.5779
5 David Reynolds Ford Falcon +9.2197
…
23 David Wall Volvo S60 +26.2117
Race 33 – Top 5
1 Craig Lowndes Holden Commodore 45 laps
2 Scott McLaughlin Volvo S60 +1.9700
3 Jamie Whincup Holden Commodore +12.6114
4 Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon +12.8931
5 Todd Kelly Nissan Altima +28.6863
…
15 David Wall Volvo S60 +56.9465
Qualifying for Race 31 – Top 5
1 Jamie Whincup Holden Commodore 1:31.0854
2 Scott McLaughlin Volvo S60 +0.0903
3 Craig Lowndes Holden Commodore +0.1195
4 David Reynolds Ford Falcon +0.2430
5 Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon +0.3731
…
20 David Wall Volvo S60 +1.2157
Qualifying for Race 32 – Top 5
1 Scott McLaughlin Volvo S60 1:30.7531
2 Jamie Whincup Holden Commodore +0.0898
3 Craig Lowndes Holden Commodore +0.1392
4 Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon +0.2124
5 David Reynolds Ford Falcon +0.2285
…
20 David Wall Volvo S60 +1.1620
Qualifying for Race 33 – Top 5
1 Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon 1:30.6764
2 Craig Lowndes Holden Commodore +0.2093
3 Jamie Whincup Holden Commodore +0.3271
4 Scott McLaughlin Volvo S60 +0.3328
5 Scott Pye Ford Falcon +0.4148
…
23 David Wall Volvo S60 +1.2946
Championship Standings – Top 5
1 Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon 3007 points
2 Craig Lowndes Holden Commodore 2828 (-179)
3 David Reynolds Ford Falcon 2688 (-319)
4 Garth Tander Holden Commodore 2459 (-548)
5 Shane Van Gisbergen Holden Commodore 2442 (-565)
…
8 Scott McLaughlin Volvo S60 2057 (-950)
24 David Wall Volvo S60 1016 (-1991)
Source: www.polestar.com