Motorsport: Whincup rules supreme

Shane van Gisbergen leads the way at Sydney. Pictures / Mark Horsburgh

Red Bull Racing pilot still the best in the business

V8 Supercars driver Jamie Whincup collected two wins and a fourth over the weekend at the final round of the series to reinforce his status as the best in the field.

Saturday's second race and Sunday's feature race in Sydney were red-flagged after a deluge but in both cases enough laps had been completed for organisers to allocate maximum points.

For the other placings, Mark Winterbottom had a narrow lead over Crag Lowndes, with Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen fourth.

Van Gisbergen knew third was achievable but getting into second would be a big ask as Winterbottom was 134 points in front. The Tekno Autosports driver cemented his reputation of being fast in the wet by finishing sixth, second and first in the three races to clinch his best championship finish.

Fellow Kiwi and Volvo driver Scott McLaughlin also finished his standout season on a high by equalling Whincup with 10 poles and a cheque for $10,300 for his efforts. With a third, fourth and an eighth, McLaughlin clinched an impressive fifth-place championship finish.
"It was great to equal Jamie, the champion, with 10 poles," McLaughlin said.

"It has been a fantastic season and I can't wait for next year. I really think we have a good car to have a crack at the championship," he said.

Scott McLaughlin (right) has enjoyed a standout season.

The third Kiwi in the field, Fabian Coulthard, had another average weekend by his standards, managing to cross the line in eighth, 11th and 12th to end the year in eighth place. To have all three New Zealanders finish inside the top 10 in a highly competitive field bodes well for next year, especially with the addition of Super Black Racing and Andre Heimgartner.

Armstrong continues to lead the Formula Fords
While the big V8s were ending their series in Australia the South Island Formula Ford championship was having its third hit-out at at Teretonga Park, Invercargill.

Aucklander Taylor Cockerton won two races and finished third in the other. The 17-year-old is now third in the series. Christchurch's Marcus Armstrong leads the championship while rival Michael Collins was back on form with a win and two podiums moving him to second overall.

There is a short break over Christmas and New Year before the future stars of New Zealand motorsport are back in action in January for two rounds, which also are part of the national championship rounds.

Overseas visitor shows the way in Suzuki Series
Hampton Downs turned on sunshine for the opening round of the Suzuki Series. The man from Liechtenstein, Horst Saiger, won both F1 Superbike races, setting lap records along the way.

Pole-sitter and local lad Jaden Hassan grabbed an early lead in both races until the experienced Saiger muscled his way to the front.

Hassan crashed late in the race, allowing Scott Moir and Tony Rees to round out the podium.

Saiger Hassan and Jaden Hassan battled it out up front in race two until a mistake by the Aucklander gifted Saiger the lead and win, with Moir finishing third.

Fresh from competing in Europe in Moto3, Avalon Biddle proved her overseas experience was invaluable as she won both F3 races.

The riders head to Manfeild next weekend, with the final round at Wanganui on Boxing Day, where Isle of Man TT regular and television personality Guy Martin returns to race a superbike at the Cemetery Circuit.