Kiwi driver Shane van Gisbergen has been docked 25 championship points over a clash with veteran Jason Bright in the first of Saturday’s two V8 Supercar races in Auckland.

Van Gisbergen forced Bright off the track during a tense duel between the pair early in the 100km sprint at Pukekohe.

He crossed the line fifth, behind winner and current series leader Mark Winterbottom, while Bright finished 12th.

Van Gisbergen went on to win the day’s second race in front of his home crowd to put himself in the lead for the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy – awarded to the driver who collects the most points over the round in honour of the late New Zealand racer.

But the penalty has sent him to third on the trophy standings behind Winterbottom and James Courtney.

He does, however, maintain his spot in sixth on the overall championship leaderboard.

Van Gisbergen admitted the penalty was deserved but hoped to make up for it in the weekend’s final 200km race on Sunday afternoon.