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Jamie Whincup - Source: Photosport -
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V8 Supercar championship leader Jamie Whincup has claimed victory in the first ever race in Townsville.
Ford's Whincup rose from ninth at the start to finish ahead of Holden Racing Team duo Will Davison and Garth Tander, who finished second and third respectively in the 72-lap race of the 2.87km street circuit.
Whincup's win is his eighth straight street circuit victory after winning at Hamilton and Clipsal this year and claiming the three races on the Gold Coast in last year's series.
But it came with a bit of luck after pole holder Lee Holdsworth and a red-hot James Courtney were both forced out of the race due to engine problems.
Courtney, who has been quick all weekend, jumped Holdsworth at the race start to claim the lead but had to retire just a few laps later when he dropped two of his engine's cylinders.
The Gold Coast-based driver held his head in his hands after pulling into the garage, the failure continuing a run of bad luck which has plagued his first season with Dick Johnson Racing.
Holdsworth's luck wasn't any better, his challenge coming to an end in the 30th lap when his engine died and he was also forced to retire.
But Whincup was enjoying plenty of good fortune, luckily avoiding a penalty in the 35th lap when he made contact with the rear of Jack Perkins' Holden.
And despite a late safety car, Whincup held off the fast-finishing Holden duo to marginally extend his championship lead over Davison and Tander.
Another 200km race will take place on Sunday.
