Whincup wins and takes points lead

All-time Champion Jamie Whincup has returned to his winning form, victorious in the 200km strategy-fuelled race at the Tyrepower Tasmania SuperSprint.

All eyes were on his teammate Craig Lowndes after showing blistering pace all weekend - as he lined up on ARMOR ALL Pole Position gunning for his 100thV8 Supercars/Australian Touring Car Championship race win - but it was Whincup who stole the show, the Championship lead.

Lowndes leapt from the front row, but made contact with second-place starter David Reynolds at turn two, and was promptly issued a drive-through penalty.

He powered through the field, showing the pace of his Red Bull Racing Australia Commodore and battling back up to sixth, reminiscent of his performance here last year, driving rom last to fifth.

Reynolds also had to power through after being spun, and managed 11th. The day was much better for his stablemate Chaz Mostert, who made it home 3.49sec behind Whincup for second.

Shane van Gisbergen also drove a solid race, home in third and on the podium.

"Amazing how it turns around, it was a weekend dominated by Lowndesy, I would've loved to see him get the three-peat," Whincup said.

"We were there or thereabouts, I can't believe it, on the top step of the podium -very happy."

He said it was a nice feeling having a quick car again.

"Unbelievable how things turn around - I thought I was just trying to hang in there today."

The race unfolded with a range of strategies, some starting on the Dunlop soft tyre, others the hard, and some electing to cross-swap the rubber for more longevity.

The first lap incident hurt Will Davison, who retired on lap one with a damaged steering rack, the promise of a second row start disappearing in a tough final day.

But it was Whincup who sailed over the finish line victorious, leaping from fourth in the Championship to nab the lead from James Courtney.

The Holden Racing Team driver started 12th on hard tyres and improved to 10th, leaving him second in the points.

Behind Whincup, Mostert and van Gisbergen, it was Garth Tander, Mark Winterbottom, Scott McLaughlin, Andre Heimgartner, Fabian Coulthard and Courtney.

Click here for full results.

Click here for Championship results.

Stay tuned to TEN for race highlights at 4pm.

The V8 Supercars return to the track at the Perth SuperSprint, from May 1-3.