Van Gisbergen wins chaotic Race 7

Shane van Gisbergen has won a chaotic Race 7, which was shortened after two Safety Car periods.

Van Gisbergen, who raced from 23rd to third on Friday, extended his points lead with a fifth win of 2022.

It marked van Gisbergen’s first win at Albert Park since 2016, and first championship race win at the venue.

David Reynolds scored a second podium in as many days, with teammate Lee Holdsworth third.

Chaz Mostert crossed the line fourth behind Holdsworth after tagging James Courtney into a spin at the final corner.

A post-race penalty for Mostert elevated Scott Pye to fourth ahead of Todd Hazelwood and Garry Jacobson.

It was another nightmare race for the Shell V-Power Racing Team.

Pole-sitter Will Davison was sent into the gravel after contact with Cam Waters, with Anton De Pasquale stung by a double-stack.

"I had to put the move on Dave, and try and preserve the Softs," said van Gisbergen, who extended his series lead to 171 points.

"Lucky I got a Safety Car and just got out in front of Dave.

"From there on, I was just controlling and trying to get the fastest lap."

Davison won the start from pole, with van Gisbergen clearing Reynolds for second.

Van Gisbergen hounded Davison and made the pass for the lead at Turn 6.

Reynolds and Brodie Kostecki took on Hard tyres on lap 4.

The balance of the field stopped when the Safety Car was deployed over an incident between Andre Heimgartner and Will Brown.

The two cars made contact at Turn 13, with Heimgartner finding the concrete wall.

Brown was slapped with a drive-through penalty and finished 23rd.

Van Gisbergen retained his lead, but double-stacking sent De Pasquale and Feeney down the order.

De Pasquale dropped to 20th, with Feeney 12th.

Reynolds, meanwhile, jumped Davison into second.

A racy Kostecki dive-bombed Davison at Turn 4, which opened the door for Courtney to move into third.

Davison managed to retain fourth, while Kostecki dropped down the order.

On lap 13, an ill-timed Waters move at Turn 3 sent Davison into the gravel trap, triggering a second Safety Car.

Waters was handed a drive-through penalty over the incident, with Davison losing a lap.

Van Gisbergen retained his lead on the restart, with Race 6 winner Mostert pushing Courtney along.

The battle came to a head on the final lap when Courtney was turned into the barriers at the final corner.

It came after Courtney escorted Mostert wide at Turn 13.

It allowed Holdsworth through into third, with Mostert hit with a post-race penalty.

Van Gisbergen crossed the line with a margin of two seconds on Reynolds, and also secured bonus points for the fastest lap.

Mostert was demoted to 22nd with the penalty, one position behind Waters.

Cars will return to the track for Race 8 at 2:20pm AEST.