Supercars: Fabian Coulthard 'relieved' to win Perth SuperNight opener following Mustang changes

Fabian Coulthard was "relieved" to taste victory in Perth following the drama surrounding the changes to the Ford Mustang.

In the lead-up to the event, Supercars announced Ford teams were required to make aerodynamic changes to the Mustang.

It came after the new-for-2019 model opened the 2019 season dropping just one of 10 races and two of 10 poles.

However, the Blue Oval responded in crushing fashion in the Perth opener on Friday night, with Mustangs filling the podium.

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Coulthard won the race to the first corner ahead of slow-starting pole man and Shell V-Power Racing teammate Scott McLaughlin. The duo led home Tickford gun Chaz Mostert.

Red Bull Holden teammates Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen battled to the end, but would be over 12 seconds off Coulthard at the flag.

With the Mustang under the spotlight - literally - under Perth's starry sky, Coulthard was simply relieved to silence the detractors, especially with Ford bigwigs at the circuit.

"I think everyone’s just relieved," the 36-year-old said after the race..

"The cars are good and it was awesome to have Roger [Penske, co-team-owner] here, it always is, and Bud [Denker, Penske Corporation President] and all the other guys.

"They get to see everything first-hand. It was good, there's no better way to respond than the way we did with having three Mustangs on the podium."

Shell Fords have now won all bar two of the season's 11 races, with Mostert (Albert Park) and van Gisbergen (Tasmania) the other drivers to stand on the top step so far this year.

McLaughlin started the season in dominant fashion, but teammate Coulthard has closed the gap in the standings to 112 points.

While conceding his teammate had greater pace in the race, McLaughlin too hailed his team's effort.

However, the reigning champ acknowledged Coulthard's upswing in form, with the 36-year-old enjoying a run of five races finishing no lower than second.

"Certainly Fabs had a lot of bad luck last year and was right there towards the end," McLaughlin said of his teammate.

"I think we're slowly getting the cars to what we both like, especially the Mustang.

"He is a little different to me in terms of how he drives, I drive different as well, but it works good and the engineers can learn off each other. It's really cool."

Race 11 begins at 8:45pm AEST.

SUPERCARS: PERTH SUPERNIGHT

RACE 11 RESULTS

SUPERCARS: CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

AFTER RACE 11