V8 Supercars star Shane van Gisbergen wins the 2016 Bathurst 12 Hour

Shane van Gisbergen has achieved his first triumph at Mount Panorama, steering McLaren's maiden win in the Bathurst 12 Hour yesterday.

After a charging opening stint behind the wheel, Van Gisbergen brought the McLaren home with a measured final drive to ensure victory for he and co-drivers Jonathon Webb and Portuguese racer Alvaro Parente.

It is the biggest win of van Gisbergen's career, and for Webb's Tekno team, as well as McLaren's biggest sports car victory since the 1995 Le Mans 24 Hours.

"The car has been the fastest all weekend, so thanks to the team," Van Gisbergen told Channel 7.

"This is the same car I raced in Europe, she's a beauty."

Last year's winner went down with a fight. Katsumasa Chiyo put in a near superhuman charge aboard Nissan's new ‘Godzilla' GT-R NISMO, slashing a 14-second deficit to cross the line just 1.2sec behind the winner — not that van Gisbergen was worried.

Chiyo threw everything into his pursuit but was unable to overhaul van Gisbergen before the flag

"We had them covered. Any time (Chiyo) did a lap, I stuck the knife in and did the same," he said.

Yet it was far from a trouble-free day for the McLaren.

It rolled to a stop with electrical troubles early in Parente's first stint, the Portuguese pilot losing almost a minute as he rebooted the car's system.

Van Gisbergen cost them a further half-minute as he began his final stint, speeding in pit lane and earning himself a penalty. The timely intervention of the safety car allowed Tekno to top up the car with fuel to vault it into the lead after the final pit stops.

Chiyo threw everything into his pursuit but was unable to overhaul van Gisbergen before the flag.

The early hours were treated more like a sprint race than a 12-hour marathon, culling the race of fast cars as the sun was still rising.

Two podium contenders were knocked out at turn two as former winner Mika Salo's Ferrari collided with Nick Percat's Lamborghini. The damage put both out of the race, with the drivers exchanging barbs.

What was your highlight from the 2016 Bathurst 12 Hour? Tell us in the comments below.