Whincup’s frustration continues
JAMIE Whincup’s Bathurst curse continue yesterday when Mount Panorama slapped him down in yet another 1000km blow.
The Red Bull Holden Racing Team driver made it a fiveyear run of Bathurst failures after an engine fault cruelled his dream of resurrecting his record-breaking bid.
Stranded on four Bathurst wins since 2012 when he drove to glory with Paul Dumbrell, the 34-year-old Whincup also blew a shot at claiming the championship lead after title rival Scott McLaughlin was the first driver struck down in the race on lap 74.
“We are not sure what happened, but it was something to do with the engine,’’ Whincup said.
“It has been a tough week but we will hang in there. The mountain can be cruel.’’
Whincup lost a final-lap battle with Mark Winterbottom in 2013, ran out of fuel in 2014 and lost last year due to a 15-second time penalty after taking the checkered flag.
Whincup admitted he was frustrated by his run of Bathurst outs, especially those that were completely out of his control.
The six-time V8 Supercars champion is hoping for a change of fortunes soon.
“I am not sure when that luck will turn around , ’ ’ Whincup said. “Look, I am not sure if we would have won today, but we were in a good spot. But it wasn’t to be.’’
Whincup will now turn his focus to winning an unprecedented seventh title.
The Triple Eight Race Engineering pilot is locked in a title race with McLaughlin and fellow Red Bull driver Shane Van Gisbergen.
“We have been hanging in there all year,’’ Whincup said. “We will continue hanging in there after today. But we need some pace.
“Moving forward we really need to find some more speed.’’
McLaughlin’s bid also took a hefty blow when he sacrificed up to 300 points in the championship race by crashing to a dreaded DNF.
McLaughlin was rubbed out of contention on lap 74 after his car’s engine failed when codriver Alex Premat was behind the wheel.
Whincup returned to finish the race in a fix-it job that allowed him to score 60 championship points and hold on to second as Fabian Coulthard took the series lead.
Whincup