Motorsport: Holden's Tander beats brave Richards

Garth Tander took out last night's V8 race. Photo / Getty Images

Holden's Garth Tander comfortably took out the second V8 Supercar race at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne last night.

Tander beat Holden driver Jason Richards and Ford's Alex Davison in the 25-lap twilight race. After race one winner Jamie Whincup had a hellish start and slipped down the field, Tander took the lead with eight laps remaining from Richards.

The New Zealander drove bravely and brilliantly again as he continues his part-time driving comeback while battling cancer to hold second. Davison, who also led the race early on, finished third with Whincup fourth. The races at Albert Park are not for V8 championship points but carry significant prize money.

Race three is scheduled for today. Earlier, Whincup continued his early dominance with the Holden star crushing his V8 rivals in the first race of the non-championship round at the Australian Grand Prix.

In his most emphatic victory of the year, Whincup blasted his way to a 17s lead mid-way through the race in a bruising drive that gave his competitors no hope. Fresh from his win at the Clipsal 500, the Holden driver is firming as the red-hot favourite for this year's championship with the Triple Eight star streets in front of the field.

"I have been coming here for years and haven't had a race win," Whincup said. "It was good to come here and finally have nothing go wrong." Lowndes screamed off the line to leave Whincup in his wake as the first of three V8 races at this weekend's Australian GP launched to life.

Leaving his team-mate back at the line, Lowndes struggled once out at the front and was reeled in just three turns by a rampaging Whincup, determined to make up for his slow start.

- AAP