A tiny points gap, two in-form drivers and a brand new street circuit – this year’s Supercars championship has all the elements of a cracking season finish.

Holden’s six-time champion Jamie Whincup will head to the season-ending Newcastle 500 with a 30-point lead over New Zealand young gun Scott McLaughlin.

Whincup and McLaughlin were basically inseparable in the Auckland SuperSprint event at Pukekohe Park Raceway.

McLaughlin finished third to Whincup’s fourth in Saturday’s race before the Red Bull Holden Racing Team star held off his DJR Team Penske rival on Sunday to end the weekend with a vital race win.

Neither driver knows what to expect at the inaugural Newcastle event, beyond the fact that it’s a level playing field for the entire grid.

“No-one’s got any data or any knowledge from years before,” Whincup said.

“You just go there, work with your team and do the best job you can.

“It’s going to be on. It’s going to be hard work for all involved but rewarding for the person that gets the ultimate prize.”

McLaughlin, who led the championship standings until a failure to finish this year’s Bathurst 1000, says he is excited about the double unknown of racing for a Supercars’ title and the 2.6km Newcastle circuit.

“It brings it back to the old go-karting days when you didn’t have any data and you just tried to learn the track by yourself,” the 24-year-old said.

“I’m excited. It’s going to be a lot of fun and looking at the layout it’s something we’ve never seen before at a street circuit. On the beach and, yeah, pretty awesome, looking forward to it.”

The Supercars’ season will come to an end with the Newcastle 500 from November 24 to 26.