GOLD COAST, Queensland, Australia — official release — Chris Hyde/Getty Images AsiaPac photo —

Red Bull Racing’s Jamie Whincup has taken a big step towards claiming a record sixth V8 Supercars Championship by winning Race 32 at the Castrol EDGE Gold Coast 600 this afternoon.

The triumph was Whincup’s 86th career V8 Supercars Championship race victory and the perennial champion’s win with Paul Dumbrell in the Triple Eight Holden Commodore VF also ensured their victory in the Pirtek Enduro Cup.

“It was extra special to do it at home, this is one of the highlights of my year… unbelievable event and nothing better than taking home the surfboard,” said Whincup.

“So much fun with J-Dub and whole Red Bull Racing Australia team,” added Dumbrell. “Disappointing at Bathurst but we bounced back.”

Pole qualifier Scott McLaughlin and Alex Premat finished second 2.8 seconds behind in the Volvo Polestar Racing S60 with Michael Caruso and Dean Fiore a close third in the Norton Hornets Nissan Altima.

It was the first V8 Supercar podium for both Premat and Fiore.

Tim Slade and Tony D’Alberto backed up yesterday’s third place in the Supercheap Auto Commodore with a fourth place result while Shane van Gisbergen and Jonathon Webb’s chances of winning a second straight event in the VIP Pet Foods Holden were dashed by a drive-through penalty for an illegal safety car restart.

Whincup’s closest pursuers in the championship, factory Ford Performance Racing driver Mark Winterbottom and Red Bull team-mate Craig Lowndes, finished 14th and 11th respectively to drop even further off the points pace.

Winterbottom was running eighth late in the race but appeared to run out of fuel.