Vintage SVG in Wine Country

However, it was a was a punt with eleven laps to go that caused some controversy, when van Gisbergen and race leader Austin Hill collided on turn two following a restart. Hill squeezed the Kiwi, who didn’t back off, and with SVG on the inside, it was Hill who came off second best… or in this case, 5^th.

It’s not the first time the two have tangled, with Hill walloping van Gisbergen after a restart at the Circuit of the Americas three months ago.

Around the Bend

After cleanly sweeping the field at Sepang, the Kiwi pair of Marco Giltrap and Clay Osborne were swept out of contention by an out-of-control rival in the opening race at The Bend in South Australia. The incident left the 84 car a lap down and in 15th.

There would be no repeat on the Sunday, with the pair leading for all but two laps of the 25-lap feature race.

Giltrap drove a perfect opening stint, handing the car to Osborne after 12 laps. The 18-year-old brought the Lamborghini Huracan home just under a second clear of race one winners Dan Wells and Emilien Carde.

The result ensures Giltrap and Osborne remain series leaders going into the third round in Korea in mid-July.

Road America

Scott Dixon has slipped to third on the IndyCar standings after finishing 21^st at Road America. The Kiwi struggled with blistering tyres and was out of contention by the midway stage of the XPEL Grand Prix.

Compatriot Scott McLaughlin emerged in the early lead after a lap one melee that saw Marcus Armstrong spin his teammate Linus Lundqvist, The Penske driver led the field for most of the race, before fading to third in the later stages, as Will Power led home a Chevy 1-2-3.

In the support race at Elkhart Lake, New Zealander Callum Hedge finished 6^th in Indy NXT to sit just outside the top five in the standings. Liam Sceats is fifth in the USF Pro 2000 championship after an 8^th place in his second race at Road America.