De Pasquale and Whincup win Sunday races at SMP

Sentenced to the back of the grid and a complicated race due to a gearbox problem on Saturday, Anton De Pasquale set the record straight this Sunday in Sydney. Strong man of this resumption at SMP with three poles and two victories the previous weekend, the DJR representative won his 3rd race in the space of only 7 days.

Author of a new pole inside the Sydney Motorsport Park and in the rain, Anton De Pasquale imposed his law in the race. Surprised at the start by Shane van Gisbergen (Triple Eight) and Bryce Fullwood (Walkinshaw Andretti United), ADP fell back to 3rd position and then launched the comeback operation. An operation that he soon succeeded in brilliantly as he regained control on the second lap of the race.

Starting on soft tires, the driver of the No. 17 Ford Mustang quickly set his pace and saw Shane van Gisbergen gradually give up ground. Pushed back almost 8 seconds from the leader, SvG decided to dive first into the pit lane on the 13th lap, leaving his rival alone on the track. Despite the championship leader's stop, Anton De Pasquale delayed his refueling and made a final stint of 10 high quality laps which allowed him to emerge with a 2 second lead over van Gisbergen after his pit stop on the 23rd lap.

Just add water!

High drama on the opening lap as SVG bolts out the gate! #RepcoSC pic.twitter.com/9KYSHCx4WC

— Supercars (@supercars) November 7, 2021

Almost in contact with Anton De Pasquale for this end of the race, Shane van Gisbergen was then ordered not to try anything on his counterpart. Forced to return to the pits after a suspected puncture on the left rear, his teammate and runner-up in the championship Jamie Whincup fell to 25th doing the business of SvG who did not ask for so much.

Bad news for Whincup!

He's forced to take a second stop after his left rear has taken damage to the inside edge after catching a curb #RepcoSC pic.twitter.com/wD7O1f3nJ2

— Supercars (@supercars) November 7, 2021

Here we go! A great stop for DJR has put Anton out with some space.

Can SVG run him down? #RepcoSC pic.twitter.com/vaVQ0lwhW3

— Supercars (@supercars) November 7, 2021

With Shane van Gisbergen lined up, Anton De Pasquale could then head straight towards his first victory of the weekend, his third in the last five races. James Courtney (Tickford Racing) finished 3rd and returned to the podium for the first time since Darwin 2020.

Whincup as a boss in the rain

In the tough after his 25th place a few hours earlier, Jamie Whincup corrected his situation during Race 3 this Sunday. In the Sydney rain, the Triple Eight driver managed a perfect takeoff from 7th position and took the lead while Shane van Gisbergen and Anton De Pasquale, present on the front row, fell back to 3rd and 4th rows.

Lights out for Race 25 and it appears Fullwood has jumped the gun! #RepcoSC pic.twitter.com/sZSMOr2BX7

— Supercars (@supercars) November 7, 2021

The race was then interrupted after James Courtney and Brodie Kostecki (Erebus Motorsport) went off the track and the safety car made its appearance for the first time since Darwin last June. Jamie Whincup revived the pack after three laps of neutralization and quickly relegated Anton De Pasquale to 3 seconds while Shane van Gisbergen fell in the standings after a detour in the gravel trap.

Courtney and Kostecki are off on the first lap and the BP Ultimate Safety car has been deployed!

Both drivers are ok #RepcoSC pic.twitter.com/y97Sj6x8pc

— Supercars (@supercars) November 7, 2021

The Kiwi's ordeal would continue into the pit lane. After refueling on the 17th lap, SvG saw one of his mechanics finish tightening the rim as the car returned to the track. An action not at all to the taste of the race management who immediately inflicted a drive through on him which the New Zealander carried out on the following lap.

😳😳😳 #RepcoSC pic.twitter.com/OqnaqbeYbA

— Supercars (@supercars) November 7, 2021

Meanwhile, Jamie Whincup managed his race perfectly in the Sydney deluge while Anton De Pasquale dove into the pits for his stop on lap 19. The Triple Eight driver decided to continue on track and stopped at T21 as the safety car came into play again following the accident of Jake Kostecki (Matt Stone Racing).

RED FLAG

Race 25 has been suspended. All cars will follow the BP Ultimate Safety Car back to pit lane and remain in the current order under parc ferme conditions #RepcoSC pic.twitter.com/POtUvjAm7v

— Supercars (@supercars) November 7, 2021

After three laps behind the safety car, the red flag was waved for the first time since the final in Gold Coast in 2018. As the rain continued, the stewards decided to end the race with Jamie Whincup winning, thus ending to a streak of 17 races without a victory, the last dating back to Tasmania in April. Anton De Pasquale and Chaz Moster (Walkinshaw Andretti United), who started last after failing technical inspections, completed the podium. Winner on Saturday and 2nd this Sunday morning, Shane van Gisbergen only finished 23rd.