James Courtney has won a pulsating Clipsal 500, backing up his 2014 victory and claiming the lead in the V8 Supercar championship.

Courtney emerged victorious from pole, overcoming a relentless Shane Van Gisbergen and teammate Garth Tander for the 250 kilometre race win.

For the final 25 laps, the three shared a monumental battle for the race lead, with the Kiwi wedged between the Holden Racing Team duo.

Van Gisbergen overtook Courtney on lap 60 but was gave back the lead in an act of sportsmanship.

The Kiwi driver said after hitting the Holden Racing Team man he didn’t feel right about claiming the lead.

“I could have driven off but I thought I’d give it back and do it cleanly,” he said.

“It was an epic race … I really enjoyed it.”

Courtney was grateful.

“It’s a good race having good, hard racing with someone that you respect,” he said.

“He was really quick and had a really good go.

“It was great sportsmanship when we had the coming together that he readdressed it.”

The Kiwi driver attempted several moves after their clash but Courtney was able to resist, becoming just the fourth man to win consecutive Clipsal 500s.

The final lap was marred by a major crash between Chaz Mostert and James Moffat, with Jamie Whincup appearing to nudge the Ford man into the wall.

Spinning back into the racing line, Moffat was unable to avoid Mostert at speed and careered into car No.6.

Both drivers avoided serious injury.

A post-race investigation is a certainty but it didn’t stop Mostert’s grief.

“I am gutted,” he said.

“To be on the last lap of the Clipsal 500 with a good bag of points in line and to get nothing is tough.

“I dont know if I didnt leave enough or if (Whincup) got into me, I have no idea after that as it got pretty crazy.”

Whincup was able to take fourth place after climbing through the field, with Mark Winterbottom using good pit-stop strategy to finish fifth.

Scott McLaughlin’s weekend of misery continued, with a battery issue plunging him from race contention to more than a lap behind the leaders.

Marcos Ambrose was unable to cash in on his fine qualifying but finished a creditable 12th.

CLIPSAL 500: RACE THREE RESULTS

1. James Courtney (Holden)

2. Shane Van Gisbergen (Holden)

3. Garth Tander (Holden)

4. Jamie Whincup (Holden)

5. Mark Winterbottom (Ford)

V8 SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

1. James Courtney (Holden) – 258 points

2. Fabian Coulthard (Holden) – 241

3. Garth Tander (Holden) – 237

4. Shane Van Gisbergen (Holden) – 222

5. Jamie Whincup (Holden) – 216