Phillip Island V8 Supercars: Scott McLaughlin wins for Volvo

Poleman McLaughlin led throughout in the Garry Rogers Motorsport-run car, with the Triple Eight Holdens of Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup glued to his tail.

Garth Tander battled up from ninth on the grid to make it a four-car train at the end, the quartet crossing the line covered by just 1.4 seconds as McLaughlin held on despite all Lowndes's probes.

The result is the new Volvo programme's fourth win in total counting the non-championship event at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, where the S60's first triumph came.

Third for Whincup brought him to the cusp of the 2014 title, as his remaining rivals both had terrible races.

Mark Winterbottom required a pitstop to clear grass from the front of his Ford Performance Racing Falcon after going off trying a move on Whincup, leaving him 24th.

The only man behind Winterbottom was title outsider Shane van Gisbergen, who had collided with Fabian Coulthard as they tried to warm their tyres in qualifying, then tangled with both James Moffat and Dale Wood in the race. He got a penalty for the latter clash and finished last.

Coulthard came through from the back to 16th after the qualifying incident.

Michael Caruso was the leading Nissan in an ultimately solitary fifth.

RESULTS - 23 LAPS: