Motorsport: Clash between McLaughlin, SVG lets fellow Kiwi Coulthard through in Sydney

Kiwis Scott McLaughlin and Shane Van Gisbergen clash during the Sydney Supersprint. Photo/Getty Images

Supercars series leader Scott McLaughlin will take his medicine, but admits he'll have to re-read his sport's rule book, after an incident at Sydney Motorsport Park that could haunt his title hopes.

McLaughlin led the race under safety car conditions with 14 laps remaining yesterday, having shown superior pace around the Eastern Creek circuit by claiming pole position.

But he came undone at the hands of fellow-Kiwi driver Shane Van Gisbergen.

The reigning champion pulled alongside his compatriot as the yellow flag was lifted, passing the series leader.

McLaughlin responded by bumping Van Gisbergen and spinning him out at the next turn, ending the hopes of both men to finish on the podium.

A 15-second punishment - instead of a usual pit-lane penalty - dropped McLaughlin to 10th, while Van Gisbergen finished 15th.

McLaughlin said he was "peeved off" by Van Gisbergen's aggressive move on the main straight after the safety car disappeared.

"The start was a bit strange," he said. "I've got to look at the rules, because it felt like what Shane pulled out, he was pulling out a little bit early.

"But what happened on the front straight was history ... I made a bad judgement into turn two and copped a penalty. It's my fault."

He brushed off any notion of being served a lesser-than-expected penalty.

"You do the crime, you do the time," he said. "Whatever [officials] decide is the best.

"I'm not going to debate their decision. At the end of the day, what's been done is done and we'll move on tomorrow."

Kiwi Fabian Coulthard took out the event, while Aussie Jamie Whincup survived 14 laps with a dodgy tyre and crumpled chasis to finish third, making up 50 points on McLaughlin in overall standings.