Western Australia’s Garth Tander won his first V8 Supercar race at home as he and Toll HSV Dealer Team mate Rick Kelly ran away to a comprehensive 1-2 victory in Race 1 of the BigPond 400 in Perth.
The result propelled reigning champion Kelly to an early championship lead in his quest for back-to-back crowns, while also elevating Tander from seventh to fifth on the championship points table.
Tander, who celebrates his 30th birthday next Saturday, set up the first part of his early birthday present by winning his first home-track V8 pole position earlier in the day.
He hit the lead off the start line and was never headed in a near-perfect race for the reigning champion team. Tander even set the fastest lap time for the race with just four laps to go when the tyres were supposed to be well beyond their best.
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