What we learned from return to Albert Park

Shane van Gisbergen left Melbourne with an extended points lead and more silverware, but cracks began to show.

A sterling recovery drive from 23rd to third was a highlight, and his car speed was evident in the Saturday races.

However, a mistake in the finale proved he isn't perfect, and a puncture left him vulnerable.

Many drivers would have wished the races offered more points, as they would have made more ground.

Others, meanwhile, would have been counting their blessings considering their dramas.

Here are five things Supercars.com learned from the Beaurepaires Melbourne 400.

Reliability, luck may decide this championship

Van Gisbergen was a cut above, but his Race 9 puncture cost him valuable points.

What's more is that his Shell Ford rivals finished second and third in the race, compounding his dramas.

The shoe was on the other foot earlier in the weekend, van Gisbergen racing at the from as the red Fords tumbled down the field.

Chaz Mostert won two races, but copped a penalty in Race 7 for nerfing James Courtney.

Then, David Reynolds' hopes of a perfect weekend were ruined by a DNF in the finale.

The variables of motorsport will always keep this championship alive until it's sewn up.

It's who can avoid the next round of luck that could be in the box seat.

That's more like it, Chaz

Tasmania was a nightmare for Mostert, and Walkinshaw Andretti United needed to lift on home soil.

That the team and its star driver did, Mostert winning two races.

Even Mostert's incident with Courtney could be regarded as a turning point; it showed he isn't here to muck around.

If it was a van Gisbergen or De Pasquale, would it have been a similar outcome?

Slade and BRT deserve more praise

Tim Slade and his CoolDrive squad have shown pace at every round so far.

Slade is a deserved eighth in the championship, a stunning outcome considering the size of the Blanchard squad.

The #3 CoolDrive Mustang was the only car to cross the line in the top 10 in all four races in Melbourne.

Expect an emotional response when the team finally cracks the podium. Could it come in Perth?

Investment paying dividends for Groves, PremiAir

It was a stunning continuation of Tassie form for Grove Racing, with both Reynolds and Lee Holdsworth reaching the podium.

Reynolds scored three trophies and a pole, and was on for overall weekend honours before he retired from the finale.

Meanwhile, Garry Jacobson was on a tear, the 2016 Super2 champion gaining a staggering 40 spots in the four races.

The Groves and Peter Xiberras entered 2022 with big expectations. However, few would have expected them to reach lofty heights this early.

MSR really has upped the ante

Matt Stone Racing was another team to reach for the stars at the commencement of the season.

Three rounds is an appropriate sample size to review the standings, and with Todd Hazelwood 10th, MSR can be proud of its results so far.

The wanted to prove its Tassie pace was no fluke. It did that at Albert Park. Can it do the same in Perth?

The 2022 season will continue at Wanneroo Raceway later this month.