Motorsport: Giz still leads as Whincup makes amends

Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen finished second, nine second behind Holden teammate Jamie Whincup, yesterday. Photo / VUE Images

What a difference a fortnight makes.

Holden's Jamie Whincup is the toast of Supercars after claiming yesterday's Gold Coast 600 final race in Surfers Paradise, keeping alive his hopes of an unprecedented seventh series title.

Whincup finished nine seconds ahead of Holden teammate Shane van Gisbergen with Volvo's Scott McLaughlin third in the second and final 300km race on the tourist strip.

The Holden star was painted as the villain earlier this month after his team protested a time penalty that cost him a fifth Bathurst 1000 win.

Whincup crossed the line first at Mt Panorama but was relegated to 11th due to the penalty. Their failed appeal rose the eyebrows of critics, including Supercars boss James Warburton who described it as "un-Australian".

But it seems all is forgiven for Whincup. He went from zero to hero yesterday with his eighth Gold Coast win.

Whincup dipped his hat to co-driver Paul Dumbrell.

"I was the co-driver today. Paul did 60 laps and I just went on with it," Whincup said.

Whincup reduced van Gisbergen's Supercars series lead to 148 points with two rounds -- and a potential 600 points -- left this year after a popular victory on the treacherous Gold Coast street circuit dubbed "concrete canyon".

However, van Gisbergen did enough to claim the 2016 Enduro Cup with co-driver Alex Premat.

The next round will be at Pukekohe from November 4.

- AAP