Eseries title officially a two-horse race

Only Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin remain in the race for the inaugural BP Supercars All Stars Eseries title as the virtual season reaches a climax.

The Kiwi duo split the three race wins at Michigan between them last night, but it was McLaughlin who benefited most with his round win closing the deficit to 78 points.

McLaughlin had been perched atop the standings for much of the competition until a string of incidents – not to mention van Gisbergen’s run of nine wins in 12 races – swung the advantage towards the latter.

Entering the penultimate round at Michigan, Cameron Waters, Anton De Pasquale and Chaz Mostert had also been mathematical chances.

The results of last night confirmed it is now officially a two-horse race, with no one other than McLaughlin still within 300 points of van Gisbergen.

Ironically, the 78-point margin is somewhat meaningful to McLaughlin.

The Shell V-Power Racing driver held that exact buffer over Jamie Whincup heading into the 2017 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship finale at Newcastle, where he looked set to seal his maiden series crown.

History tells us it went a different way, with Whincup winning the most dramatic of deciders.

McLaughlin has though won the past two titles, with 2016 champion van Gisbergen his nearest rival on each occasion.

Round 10 of the BP Supercars All Stars Eseries will be held at iconic Australian circuits Mount Panorama and Oran Park next Wednesday night.

Other battles to watch out for is the fight for third, with nine points separating Waters and De Pasquale, while Lee Holdsworth is just hanging onto a place inside the top 10.

Garry Jacobson and Bryce Fullwood are hot on the tail of the Truck Assist Mustang driver.

Eseries standings after Round 9

1. Shane van Gisbergen 2165

2. Scott McLaughlin 2087

3. Cameron Waters 1843

4. Anton De Pasquale 1833

5. Chaz Mostert 1678

6. Andre Heimgartner 1405

7. Fabian Coulthard 1371

8. Will Davison 1370

9. Jack Le Brocq 1340

10. Lee Holdsworth 1311