Pukekohe V8 Supercars: Jason Bright dominates race four

Bright lost his pole advantage off the line as champion Jamie Whincup made a supersonic start and opened an immediate lead.

But as the early laps progressed, the Brad Jones Holden started to reel the Triple 8 example in.

A straightforward move into the hairpin just before one-third distance duly got Bright back in front.

Bright was then able to calmly edge away, allowing him to clinch the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy for the best cumulative performance of the weekend.

Whincup was left to fend off a gaggle of pursuers, led by Garth Tander.

The Holden Racing Team Commodore eventually sliced past Whincup with three laps to go. Whincup then resisted Bright's team-mate Fabian Coulthard to the finish.

Mark Winterbottom was set to join this group after escaping from Ford Performance Racing stablemates Will and Alex Davison, then passing James Courtney. But a repeat of his race one left-rear tyre blow sent Winterbottom to the pits.

Will Davison chased Coulthard home in fifth, with Courtney leading Alex Davison and David Reynolds over the line in sixth.

Results - 36 laps:

Pos  Driver               Team/Car                      Time/Gap
 1.  Jason Bright         Brad Jones Holden          37m39.1958s
 2.  Garth Tander         HRT Holden                   + 5.2990s
 3.  Jamie Whincup        Triple 8 Holden              + 6.3483s
 4.  Fabian Coulthard     Brad Jones Holden            + 6.6496s
 5.  Will Davison         FPR Ford                     + 7.3144s
 6.  James Courtney       HRT Holden                  + 10.0085s
 7.  Alex Davison         Schwerkolt/FPR Ford         + 10.1189s
 8.  David Reynolds       Rod Nash/FPR Ford           + 10.7824s
 9.  Craig Lowndes        Triple 8 Holden             + 15.1026s
10.  James Moffat         Nissan                      + 18.3753s
11.  Shane van Gisbergen  Tekno Holden                + 24.3732s
12.  Alexandre Premat     GRM Holden                  + 24.9864s
13.  Russell Ingall       Walkinshaw/HRT Holden       + 28.9737s
14.  Todd Kelly           Nissan                      + 29.4321s
15.  Rick Kelly           Nissan                      + 30.0301s
16.  Michael Caruso       Nissan                      + 30.3853s
17.  Tony D'Alberto       D'Alberto Holden            + 33.3062s
18.  Jonathon Webb        Tekno Holden                + 35.0840s
19.  David Wall           Britek/BJR Holden           + 35.4153s
20.  Tim Blanchard        DJR Ford                    + 36.9402s
21.  Maro Engel           Erebus Mercedes             + 37.8096s
22.  Lee Holdsworth       Erebus Mercedes             + 38.2400s
23.  Tim Slade            Rosenberg/Erebus Mercedes   + 38.9192s
24.  Mark Winterbottm     FPR Ford                       + 1 lap
25.  Jonny Reid           DJR Ford                       + 1 lap

Retirements:

     Dean Fiore           Dumbrell Holden                 6 laps