Van Gisbergen defeats Davison, Reynolds in Race 8

Shane van Gisbergen has extended his points lead with a Saturday Albert Park double.

The points leader outlasted Will Davison and David Reynolds to secure victory in Race 8.

It came just hours after van Gisbergen raced to victory in Race 7.

Van Gisbergen was forced to overtake erstwhile leader Davison following his compulsory stop.

For the second time in as many rounds, van Gisbergen used minor contact to clear the #17.

From there, van Gisbergen was imperious as he marched to career victory No. 60, and his sixth of 2022.

"Man, my car is a jet," he said.

"I can't thank everyone at Red Bull Ampol Racing enough, so enjoyable this weekend.

"I was just pushing and pushing... some good racing, this track's good for racing and passing."

Pole-sitter Anton De Pasquale slumped to fourth after making an early-race error.

It helped van Gisbergen extend his championship lead to 186 points.

De Pasquale won the start and led through Turns 1 and 2, with Reynolds demoting van Gisbergen to fourth.

A number of cars found the grass at Turn 1, with Scott Pye suffering a puncture after contact with Macauley Jones.

De Pasquale attempted to build a gap, with cars beginning to stop as early as lap 2.

Mostert followed Tim Slade in on lap 3, and hit the rear of the CoolDrive Ford at pit entry.

The two cars swapped positions, which would become effective fifth and sixth.

On lap 4, De Pasquale ceded the lead to Davison after he locked up and ran long at Turn 1.

Reynolds also cleared the #11 Shell Ford, with De Pasquale keeping van Gisbergen at bay.

Davison stopped from the lead on lap 5, and emerged with a 5.9s gap on Mostert.

Van Gisbergen attacked De Pasquale before the latter stopped on lap 6.

The points leader cleared Reynolds for the lead before Grove Racing called in the #26 for its stop.

Reynolds emerged between the two Shell Fords, with Davison holding a 3.8s lead.

Van Gisbergen stopped and slotted in behind Davison, and De Pasquale ranged up alongside the #97.

On cold tyres, van Gisbergen escorted De Pasquale wide at Turn 3, allowing Reynolds through into third.

Davison’s four-second margin quickly evaporated, and van Gisbergen was within striking distance on lap 12.

The lead changed hands at Turn 5, albeit with contact as van Gisbergen muscled past the #17 Mustang.

In quick time, van Gisbergen pushed into a two-second lead, with Reynolds hounding Davison.

Davison held onto second by the flag, but could do little to prevent van Gisbergen scoring a second win in as many starts.

The end margin was 5.6s, with Reynolds just 0.8s behind Davison at the flag.

The Beaurepaires Melbourne 400 will conclude with Race 9 on Sunday.