The three-year first in rain-affected Sydney epic

The ARMOR ALL Sydney SuperNight finale was a race to remember, with rain making for a unique spectacle under lights.

Jamie Whincup won from sixth on the grid, marking his first race win since April's Beaurepaires Tasmania SuperSprint.

With Shane van Gisbergen only 23rd, the margin from first to second in the championship was cut from 418 to 337 points.

The first ever race held under lights on a Sunday didn't disappoint, although the red flag was flown as conditions deteriorated.

Drivers masterfully negated the conditions, with spray and standing water making for a unique challenge under lights.

Seldom do races get red-flagged; the last Supercars race to be stopped was the Sunday race on the Gold Coast in 2018.

Thunderstorms caused Race 27 of the 2018 season to be abandoned. The race was red flagged twice due to inclement weather, with the second ultimately calling an end to proceedings.

Sunday’s race was the sixth race in 2021 to feature the BP Ultimate Safety Car, and the first to feature more than one Safety Car period.

Conversely, only five races in the entire 2020 season featured Safety Car periods. The 2019 season alone featured 20 Safety Car periods.

The race also featured the Safety Car in Sydney for the first time since the 300km night race in 2018.

Here are the 10 previous occurrences of races being halted following Sunday night's shortened race.

Gold Coast, 2018: Rain

Winner: Race abandoned

The heavens opened on lap 29, with a Safety Car called for Paul Dumbrell's crash interrupted by a red flag on lap 37. A second attempt to restart proceedings only lasted another five laps behind the Safety Car, before it was red-flagged again and ultimately abandoned. No points were awarded and no winners were declared.

Sandown, 2017: Accident

Winner: Cameron Waters/Richie Stanaway

For the second time in as many years, a major Turn 6 crash - this time for Taz Douglas - saw the race halted. Cameron Waters held out Scott McLaughlin in the truncated race to claim his and Richie Stanaway's first career wins.

Tasmania, 2017: Accident

Winner: Shane van Gisbergen

A multi-car pile-up was triggered amid blinding spray. The race was restarted behind the Safety Car, with van Gisbergen awarded victory under fading light. No championship points were awarded.

Sandown, 2016: Accident

Winner: Garth Tander/Warren Luff

The 2016 Sandown 500 was stopped on the opening lap following a shocking accident for James Golding at Turn 6. The barriers were repaired and the race started, with Tander holding out Shane van Gisbergen.

Adelaide, 2016: Rain

Winner: Nick Percat

Nick Percat delivered Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport an unlikely maiden win amid heavy rain in Adelaide. A delayed start under Safety Car and eventually a race stoppage after 41 of the scheduled 78 laps were both influenced by deteriorating conditions. The race was restarted five minutes ahead of its time cut-off; Percat emerged victorious amid fuel drop confusion.

Sydney Olympic Park, 2014: Rain

Winners: Jamie Whincup, Shane van Gisbergen

Wet weather punctuated the 2014 season finale in Homebush, with two races red-flagged due to the conditions. The second Saturday race was red-flagged after lightning and thunderstorms rolled in. The race continued under the Safety Car, but Whincup claimed victory when time expired. On Sunday, the circuit was again lashed by severe thunderstorms. The race was suspended and later abandoned after 44 of 74 laps, handing victory to van Gisbergen.

Bathurst, 2014: Track breaking up

Winner: Chaz Mostert/Paul Morris

Officials halted the race after the track surface began to disintegrate at Griffin’s Bend. It restarted after an hour-long stoppage, with Mostert famously passing an out-of-fuel Whincup on the lap as the eighth hour approached.

Darwin, 2013: Accident

Winner: Craig Lowndes

A multi-car accident saw several drivers implicated, with Dean Fiore's car tipped onto its side before coming to rest on its wheels. The race restarted and Lowndes went on to defy Winterbottom in a thrilling finish.

Gold Coast, 2012: Accident

Winner: Jamie Whincup/Sebastien Bourdais

The race was twice red-flagged for a total of 50 minutes because of two separate start-line crashes. Ricky Taylor ended up on his roof in the first accident, before Nicolas Minassian was turned in front of the field. The distance of the race was reduced from 102 to 79 laps, with Whincup and open-wheel ace Bourdais the victors.

Perth, 2011: Accident

Winner: Jamie Whincup

Karl Reindler stalled on the grid and was collected by an unsighted Steve Owen, triggering a dramatic fiery accident. Both drivers escaped the crash, which triggered a red flag. Whincup went on to win the race.

The 2021 Repco Supercars Championship will resume this weekend at the BP Ultimate Sydney SuperSprint. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

Every session of the event will be broadcast live on Foxtel (Fox Sports 506) and streamed on Kayo. The Seven Network will showcase highlights of the event.