RACE 3 started and the chequered flag waved, but they were about the only non-chaotic elements of what was the most controversial race in recent Supercars history.

Even the mere fact that history will record it as a ‘race’ is contentious.

A 12-car pile-up forced the race to be halted after just two laps, the race resuming under Safety Car for just long enough to see the chequered flag wave. Just five out of the scheduled 50 laps were in the books.

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RESULTS: Click here for the full results from Race 3 in Tasmania

A statement from Supercars confirmed that the race will stand and the results will count towards all the official statistics.

However, no championship points will be awarded.

“Confederation of Motorsport (CAMS) Race Stewards, in consultation with Supercars Australia, have decided Championship points from today’s crash-shortened race at Symmons Plains in Tasmania will not be awarded,” a Supercars statement said.

“The 50-lap race ended under safety car with only one lap completed following the multi-car accident which happened on the second lap of the race.

“While no Championship points will be awarded, Shane van Gisbergen’s victory will be recorded as a race win, and the race results stand.

“CAMS Stewards determined: “In the exceptional circumstances existing in respect of Race 3 the Stewards, after consultation with Supercars, and in the exercise of their authority pursuant to Rule A10.1.4 have determined that no Championship Points, either Drivers or Teams, will be awarded for Race 3.”

Triple Eight crossed the line in a mirror of their 1-2-3 sweep of 12 months ago, Shane van Gisbergen ahead of Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes.

The trio were the survivors of a bizarre sequence of events that befell the all-Ford front row of Scott McLaughlin and Chaz Mostert.

The latter blasted into the lead off the start - officials clearing him of jumping too soon - but ran wide at the start of the second tour, dropping down to sixth place.

The 12-car crash would happen behind him moments later, triggering the red flags and a disastrous moment of indecision from McLaughlin.

Running second, he went to head to the pit lane, thought better of it, then decided pit. He came down the lane alone; the rest of the field, as per the rules, pulled up to a stop on the front straight.

The mistake saw him drop to 14th in the standings, and is believed to have been triggered by a radio call that told him to head to the pits.

The saving grace? With no points awarded, it will not come back to bite him at the business end of the championship in November.

With the question over whether Race 3 was actually a ‘race’ finalised, attention now turns to just how many of the crashed cars will front for Sunday’s Race 4.

Four teams had all of their cars badly damaged, while Nissan Motorsport have two badly damaged cars on their hands.

Two cars have already been ruled out: Mobil 1 HSV Racing confirmed that James Courtney’s car will not be repaired for Sunday, while Taz Douglas took to social media to confirm that his No.3 Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport Holden is also too damaged to take any further part.

Relive the day as it played out with our blog below.