Reynolds, Shirvington race ends in tight photo finish

A unique man versus machine race in Sydney has gone down to the wire, with David Reynolds beating sprinter turned TV personality Matt Shirvington in a photo finish.

Team 18 driver Reynolds went head-to-head with Sunrise presenter Shirvington on the Brabham Straight in Sydney on Friday morning in a 30-metre race.

In a rare sprinting return for Shirvington, who held the Australian 100-metre national sprint title from 1998 to 2002, the win ultimately fell to Reynolds, but only just.

The third-fastest Australian sprinter ever, Shirvington got away to a flyer, before Reynolds' V8-powered TRADIE Energy Chevrolet Camaro got to the line first.

Shirvington jokingly claimed victory before later claiming a tie, before Reynolds was awarded the win.

The two were joined on the grid Shirvington's fellow Sunrise presenters Katie Brown and Mark Beretta, who will join Seven's Supercars coverage this weekend from Saturday.

"I don't care that I lost, my hamstrings are intact, my Achilles is intact," Shirvington, 46, joked.

"I can enjoy the weekend, and watch the Supercars coming up tonight, they've just got a lazy 100km tonight."

Reynolds added: "I hope I don't get that bad a start tonight."

Supercars will return to Sydney Motorsport Park for the opening race of what is set to be the most action-packed season in Supercars history.

Race 1 takes place on Friday night, with Race 2 on Saturday night and Race 3 on Sunday afternoon. Tickets for the February 21-23 event are on sale now.