Brodie Kostecki has backed up his Bathurst 1000 win by conquering the streets of Surfers Paradise, while Red Bull drivers Will Brown and Broc Feeney have staged a pulsating showdown.
Erebus driver Kostecki was largely unchallenged as he pulled off a masterclass drive on Sunday to convert pole position into his first Gold Coast win after avoiding carnage early in the race.
It was the reigning champion’s second race win of the season, having dominated Mount Panorama with co-driver Todd Hazelwood earlier this month.
Series leader Brown prevailed over a cut-throat Feeney in a thrilling duel between the two Red Bulls to finish second and stay atop the standings.
Feeney remains Brown’s only opposition in the championship race, with Chaz Mostert and Cam Waters now out of contention after the two missed out on the podium.
The Red Bull drivers are separated by 180 points.
After winning Saturday’s race, Waters tried to operate as a spoiler but fell short in fourth after sustaining damage to the front of his Tickford Mustang.
Mostert, then fifth, was forced to return to the pits to refuel after an error in his last visit and was made to settle for 11th place.
With only 300 points available in the final round in Adelaide, Mostert and Waters will be unable to close the gap to Brown.
Waters’s Tickford teammate, Thomas Randle, came fifth after finishing runner-up on Saturday.
There was chaos in the opening lap when Anton De Pasquale’s Dick Johnson Camaro sent Walkinshaw Andretti United rookie Ryan Wood into the tyre barrier at turn 11.
Beginning to spin out, De Pasquale was then shoved into the opposite wall by James Courtney to create an eight-car pile-up and bring out the safety car.
De Pasquale did not return to the race, while Courtney was last and Wood 21st out of the 23 drivers.
PremiAir Nulon driver James Golding endured another disastrous pit stop after a visit to the garage in Saturday’s race cost him a podium finish.
After his pit crew struggled to replace his left rear wheel in the first Gold Coast race, Golding’s Camaro on Sunday was dropped too early before a brand-new right-rear wheel was fitted on.
Golding crossed the finish line 13th after starting ninth.
The series heads to Adelaide from November 14-17 to settle the championship race.
Championship standings
- 1: Will Brown (Triple Eight Race Engineering) 2772 pts
- 2. Broc Feeney (Triple Eight) -180
- 3. Chaz Mostert (Walkinshaw Andretti United) -309
- 4. Cam Waters (Tickford Racing) -428
- 5. Matt Payne (Grove Racing) -909
AAP
