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Scott McLaughlin has put the 2020 Supercar Championship title out of the question with second place behind Cameron Waters in the OTR SuperSprint final.
The Shell V-Power Racing driver started from pole and, with a 299-point lead, he just needed to finish ahead of rival Jamie Whincup to secure the crown with one round remaining.
Also front row starter Waters beat McLaughlin at Turn 1, sweeping the outside while Whincup was in third place.
The trio raced head-to-head for the first few laps, before Whincup pitted on lap eight. Waters and McLaughlin stopped a lap later, getting back on track ahead of Red Bull Holden.
That’s the way they stayed the entire time: Waters took the flag 3.3586 seconds behind McLaughlin, who is now heading to Bathurst without the pressure of a title fight.
Only a total disaster at Bathurst, including a points penalty, could deny McLaughlin the crown.
“It’s amazing, credit to everyone at Shell V-Power Racing. It feels weird not being able to celebrate with the fans as usual, ”McLaughlin said.
“I have the lead now, we can fully focus on Bathurst and have a great opportunity.
“It’s been an amazing battle with Jamie all year and for Cam he got his first win of the year, congratulations.
“At first I was trying to be safe, but I wanted to get ahead. He did a great job and I’m happy. “
For Waters, the result marked his first victory in a single-driver Supercars race, following his victory at the 2017 Sandown 500 alongside co-driver Richie Stanaway.
“The car was amazing, we did a little better between the two races, I made a good start and I was out,” Waters said.
“The guys did a great job at the pit stop and rewarding all the hard work they put in is just amazing.
“I am absolutely thrilled and excited to blow my butts off. I was breastfeeding them for the entire run, I just wanted to get rid of them! “
Whincup spent the final stages holding down Nick Percat, and was left to mourn a difficult weekend for the Red Bull Holden Racing Team.
“Congratulations to Scotty and his team for an incredible year,” he said.
“We did everything we could to try to get him to Bathurst, but we just weren’t fast enough and you also have to be consistent. We just weren’t there.
“I’m quite proud of what everyone has done this year, I’m looking forward to going to Bathurst now, without gloves, trying to see who can get to the finish line first.”
Shane van Gisbergen was the great driver after having completed 22nd place on the grid and fifth, the New Zealander taking six of those places on the first lap.
The last one came on the last lap thanks to a mistake by Chaz Mostert at Turn 6.
Mostert had lost positions to Fabian Coulthard and Percat early on, before running a lot and struggling on a cooler tire in the second half.
Todd Hazelwood, Coulthard, Lee Holdsworth and James Courtney rounded out the top 10 after a difficult race for Courtney.
The Boost Mobile Mustang had raced behind Whincup, but lost time with an apparent air box fire at the pit exit and a subsequent excursion off the track as it attempted to pass Coulthard at Turn 5.
The 2020 Virgin Australia Supercar Championship will conclude with the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 from October 15-18.
