Van Gisbergen denies Davison in Race 21

Shane van Gisbergen has denied Will Davison to claim his 12th win of the season at Sydney Motorsport Park.

For the second time in as many days, van Gisbergen made up ground on the opening lap to put himself in the fight.

Davison led the early laps, but an electrical gremlin in the #17 Shell V-Power Racing Team Mustang scuppered the veteran’s bid.

Nick Percat scored his second podium of 2021 after overhauling Brodie Kostecki and pole-sitter Anton De Pasquale, who was later excluded from the race results.

De Pasquale bogged down off the line and was swamped, handing Davison a clear run through Turn 1.

It was a stark contrast to Saturday’s race start, with Will Brown managing to run alongside De Pasquale through Turn 2.

Kostecki, who started third, tried to unsettle Davison into Turn 2, with Jamie Whincup and van Gisbergen behind.

Van Gisbergen ran around the outside of Kostecki and Whincup through Turn 6, and was into second by lap’s end.

De Pasquale, meanwhile, was seventh after the opening tour, having also dropped behind Percat and Chaz Mostert.

Davison began to stretch his legs; by lap 5, the margin to van Gisbergen was 1.6s. By lap 10, it was 2.8s.

De Pasquale was first of the lead group to stop, with the pole man taking on right-side tyres at the end of lap 8.

Kostecki was unable to keep pace with van Gisbergen, with the two Commodores split by 3.5s by lap 13.

With the lead hovering at three seconds, it was revealed Davison’s car was suffering an electrical issue.

Van Gisbergen followed Davison into the lane at the end of lap 15.

Without a dash read, Davison managed to slow his car into the lane; Davison took on four tyres, and van Gisbergen three.

Such was Davison’s effort to wipe speed out of his car, that van Gisbergen swerved into the fast lane.

Van Gisbergen emerged just ahead, with the duo returning to the race ahead of Kostecki and Brown - but behind De Pasquale, who had benefited from an undercut and shorter stop.

Percat and Whincup were both jumped by Brown, who along with teammate Kostecki, took on four tyres at his stop.

Van Gisbergen led Davison by 0.4s, with Kostecki in turn 0.4s behind the #17 Shell Ford.

Van Gisbergen and Davison forced their way past Tim Slade, who had pitted early.

With 12 laps remaining, the top five were covered by five seconds.

The margin between De Pasquale and van Gisbergen narrowed, bringing Davison into play.

On lap 23, De Pasquale ran wide at Turn 2, allowing van Gisbergen to complete the pass - albeit with minor contact - into Turn 3.

De Pasquale immediately allowed Davison through, and the veteran returned to the rear of van Gisbergen’s car.

Kostecki stalked De Pasquale, allowing van Gisbergen and Davison to skip away.

Percat entered the fray as Kostecki struggled to clear De Pasquale, who was putting up a valiant defence of third.

On lap 29, Kostecki locked up at Turn 8, allowing Percat free passage into fourth.

Percat executed an overtake into Turn 6, having run around the outside of Turn 5. Kostecki - who would claim fastest lap bonus points - cleared De Pasquale into the final lap.

All the while, Davison shadowed the rear of van Gisbergen, but Davison opened the gap and allowed the points leader to claim the win by 1.9s.

Percat crossed the line 9.4s behind van Gisbergen, with Kostecki 1.3s from a second podium in as many days.

Cameron Waters was the lead Tickford Racing driver in a lowly 13th, and is now 516 points behind van Gisbergen.

With Whincup seventh, van Gisbergen will carry an extended 348-point lead into Race 22.

The final race of the Bunnings Trade Sydney SuperNight will commence at 4:25pm AEDT.