"I can't believe I've won the blood Bathurst 1000, we won it," an elated and exhausted McLaughlin said after emerging from his car and being greeted by teammate Premat.

"I've dreamt about this.

"We've had a such a good car all week, I've put so much pressure on myself, the whole team have put so much on ourselves to make this a good one.

"I'm so proud of Shell V Power Racing, we made such a bloody good car."

McLaughlin finished ahead of fellow Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen with James Courtney third in what turned out to be one-lap sprint when the safety car came out with two laps to go.

McLaughlin admitted it was a daunting scenario with the most competitive of all the drivers van Gisbergen breathing down his neck.

"I threw it in over the top and hoped that I could get a bit of gap going down Conrod (straight) and thankfully she held on and we got the 'W', he said of the final lap duel.

Pelat described the final stages of the race as stressful and insane.

"That was so stressful, that was insane. We were gambling, gambling [on fuel], that was crazy. I am so happy to win this race... it's magic," he said.

McLaughlin said he always believed that he could win Bathurst but it was a huge moment to finally achieve the goal.

"You always believe you can (win), but it's Bathurst. I've had plenty of bad ones when I've gone off the track, hit the wall or rolled, bowled and arseholed but we got it done, I don't care now I'm a Bathurst winner," he said.

The 26-year-old McLaughlin was ice cool in the final 12 laps opting to stay out on the track with every millimetre of fuel at a premium when then leader Jamie Whincup pitted under the yellow flag of the safety car.

Whincup, who was partnered by Bathurst legend Craig Lowndes, emerged in fourth place, but his strategy to push hard in the final laps backfired.

Two more yellow flag restarts saved enough fuel for McLaughlin to get home and keep chief Supercars series challenger van Gisbergen at bay.

Van Gisbergen, who was partnered with Garth Tander, was delighted to be back on the podium at Bathurst but disappointed it was a minor placing again.

"Man, second sucks but well done to the winners they had a great car all week," he said. "I'll keep trying, I've got a lot of years left."

The result puts McLaughlin in with a real chance of sealing his second straight title on the streets of the Gold Coast in a fortnight at the third last event of the year.

McLaughlin now leads van Gisbergen by 622 points