Motorsport: Coulthard has two wins in Melbourne

Fabian Coulthard (C). Photo / John Pryke

A driver best known for a spectacular 2010 crash at Bathurst appears ready to make an impact on the 2013 V8 Supercars championship after back-to-back victories at Albert Park yesterday.

Before the V8 exhibition round at the Australian Grand Prix, Fabian Coulthard had never claimed a pole position, race win or top-10 season finish in the category.

His biggest claim to fame was emerging unscathed from a scary 290km/h crash at Mt Panorama three years ago, rolling his vehicle six times.

But Coulthard looks set to do some damage on the V8 series after consecutive wins yesterday.

Starting on pole for the second straight race, Coulthard finished more than two seconds ahead of series leader Craig Lowndes with the Kiwi's Brad Jones Racing teammate Jason Bright third.

However, Lowndes faces an anxious wait as officials investigate a pit-lane incident between the Holden driver and Bright.

No championship points are up for grabs in Melbourne but Coulthard is earning something just as important ahead of the next official round at Tasmania's Symmons Plains in early April - a psychological edge.

Coulthard's Commodore comes from the same makers of Holden team Triple Eight Red Bull, home of four-time driver's champion Jamie Whincup and 2013 series leader Lowndes.

And Coulthard made it clear Triple Eight won't be having it all their own way by winning an intriguing duel with Lowndes in race two.

- AAP