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Courtney wins Abu Dhabi thriller

James Courtney scored his first win for HRT in a thrilling V8 Supercar race in Abu Dhabi

Two lengthy safety car periods tore up the usual strategy and created an amazing finale. Courtney was ahead, but marginal on fuel, Jason Bright was second but had no such issues. He ate into Courtney's advantage and swooped into the lead with a daring pass.

But the reigning champion was able to up his pace and hold on to the Brad Jones Racing Holden. On the penultimate lap Courtney made his move, only for Bright to fightback instantly. But this left an opportunity for Courtney to re-pass once more - the lead changing three times in three corners!

This was the decisive exchange and Courtney held on for a sensational victory. It also ended Jamie Whincup's unbeaten streak at Yas Marina. He finished third having being shuffled down the order by pitting under the second safety car.

David Reynolds took a great fourth after a similar fuel gamble to Courtney's by his Straco Racing team, while Michael Caruso finished sixth for Fujitsu Racing, making it a Holden clean sweep of the top six places. Jonathon Webb was the top Ford runner in seventh.

Pos  Driver               Car         Time/Gap
 1.  James Courtney       Holden  1h43m14.651s
 2.  Jason Bright         Holden      + 0.607s
 3.  Jamie Whincup        Holden      + 4.827s
 4.  David Reynolds       Holden      + 7.941s
 5.  Michael Caruso       Holden     + 12.345s
 6.  Jonathon Webb        Ford       + 13.100s
 7.  Alex Davison         Ford       + 13.656s
 8.  Shane van Gisbergen  Ford       + 14.199s
 9.  Greg Murphy          Holden     + 18.076s
10.  Paul Dumbrell        Ford       + 20.280s
11.  Karl Reindler        Holden     + 20.497s
12.  Jason Bargwanna      Holden     + 21.070s
13.  Steve Owen           Holden     + 25.713s
14.  Mark Winterbottom    Ford       + 28.110s
15.  Fabian Coulthard     Holden     + 42.488s
16.  Will Davison         Ford       + 49.120s
17.  Warren Luff          Holden     + 55.617s
18.  Steven Johnson       Ford       + 59.414s
19.  Rick Kelly           Holden       + 1 lap
20.  Dean Fiore           Ford         + 1 lap
21.  Craig Lowndes        Holden       + 1 lap
22.  Lee Holdsworth       Holden      + 5 laps

Retirements:

     James Moffat         Ford    26 laps
     Russell Ingall       Holden  19 laps
     Todd Kelly           Holden  3 laps
     Tony D'Alberto       Holden  0 laps
     Garth Tander         Holden  0 laps
     Tim Slade            Ford    0 laps

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