Abu Dhabi: Jamie Winchup, winner of the 2008 and 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series, earned the bragging rights after winning the first-ever night race and the inaugural event of the Australian Touring Car's 2010 championship at the Yas Marina Circuit last night.
The reigning champion, who switched from Ford to Holden at the start of this season, was an impressive winner as he finished ahead of three-time champion Craig Lowndes with Mark Winterbottom and James Courtney finishing behind.
"It's fantastic. There was a huge question mark before this race and now I am looking forward to 2010," he said while doing the victory lap in his car.
"It's as good as it gets. Thanks boys," Winchup told his team as he bids to complete a hat-trick of championship wins this year.
"We come to a new circuit with a brand new car with a big question mark over the top of us [and] to get the most out of the car and win is a really good feeling," he said.
Winchup had earlier in the day claimed pole position in his first Top 10 Shootout driving the Triple Eight Commodore.
Winchup took pole ahead of his new arch-rival, Toll Holden Racing Team's Garth Tander.
It was a fun-filled day as the open access for all spectators at Yas Marina Circuit helped families enjoy meeting the V8 Supercar drivers during the Pit Lane Walk prior to qualifying.
Sideshows
A series of sideshows and races kept the fans fully occupied with highlight being the spectacle of 110 Harley Davidsons cruising around the circuit before the racing action of the cars.
Bahrain's Shaikh Salman Bin Rashid Al Khalifa recorded his first victory in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East with a flawless drive in Round 7 in one of the support races.
The 2005 Formula BMW Asia champion, one of the pre-season favourites in the new one-make Porsche series, had started the weekend down in fifth place in the 12-round championship after a trail of disappointments.
But he was in control from start to finish after starting the race in pole position, and won despite a spectacular climb through the field by Saudi Arabia's Prince Abdul Aziz Al Faisal who eventually finished second to extend his championship lead to 31 points.
Only fifth fastest in qualifying earlier in the day after experiencing handling problems. Prince Abdul Aziz produced a brilliant surge to overhaul three drivers, including his own team-mate and cousin, Prince Khalid Al Faisal.
But while the dashing Saudi driver continued to close the gap on the leader, he ultimately had to be content with second place as Shaikh Salman held on for a well-deserved victory in the 13-lap race.
With Prince Khalid taking the other podium place to strengthen his grip on second spot in the championship, teenager Fahad Al Gosaibi, fellow Saudi driver Bandar Alesayi and Abu Dhabi's Khalid Al Qubaisi completed the top six.
