Sunday’s 300km Supercars race on the Gold Coast has resumed after a half-hour delay due to a thunderstorm.

Lightning and heavy rain on the Surfers Paradise street circuit forced officials to halt the 102-lap race with 37 laps completed.

The race is unlikely to go the full distance before a time limit of 4.48pm expires.

But the resumption will ensure points can be awarded once 51 laps – or 50 per cent of the race distance – is completed.

The suspension came too late for defending champion Jamie Whincup whose co-driver Paul Dumbrell collided with a wall as the rain began to get heavier.

Erebus Motorsport’s Anton de Pasquale was race leader after the suspension ahead of co-drivers Garry Jacobson and Alex Davison.

Championship leader Scott McLaughlin was in ninth position with main rival Shane Van Gisbergen 11th.