Whincup’s mountain of bad memories

A SUDDENLY media-shy Jamie Whincup may not want to be reminded of his recent Bathurst 1000 track record ahead of Sunday’s Great Race.

But Ford rival Mark Winterbottom thought he would do it anyway, warning the Holden gun another Mount Panorama gaffe will all but end his Supercars championship hopes.

Four-time King of the Mountain Whincup is keeping an uncharacteristically low profile before the 161-lap classic, electing not to do any media before practice officially starts today.

No doubt Whincup wants to avoid any reminder of his past three Bathurst campaigns. And it’s little wonder. In 2014, Whincup defied team orders, refused to conserve fuel and went for the win, eventually spluttering to fifth. In 2015, Whincup again earned his team’s ire when he ignored instructions to pit and instead kept driving, only to accidentally pass the safety car and finish 18th.

Last year was possibly the most cruel. Whincup crossed the line first but finished 11th because of a 15-second penalty for his role in a spectacular crash while vying for the lead with Volvo’s Scott McLaughlin and Holden’s Garth Tander in the dying laps.

Whincup clearly can’t afford another slip-up. He is second in the championship just 84 points behind leader McLaughlin.

Sixth-placed Winterbottom reckons the championship may be wide open after what will no doubt be another eventful Bathurst 1000.

“It can turn on its head at Bathurst. The championship is definitely not over for anyone,” he said. “Those top five guys are very close. A bad race and you are going to slip down. Look at Jamie the last couple of years.

“So it’s all or nothing for us at the moment. It’s a race that makes you try and win it — no one holds back.”