Whincup’s flyer puts heat on V8 rivals
JAMIE Whincup threw down the gauntlet in the Supercars championship fight yesterday by blasting a lap record in practice for the Gold Coast 600.
Locked in a five- way battle for the drivers’ title, the Red Bull Holden Racing Team star clocked 1min09.91sec around the streets of Surfers Paradise.
“We pushed hard on good tyres and were able to extract the most out of it,’’ Whincup said. ‘‘ It is very good to be able to go quick’’
W h i n - cup’s scorching form came after his co- driver Paul Dumbrell won the second session featuring the part- timers.
“I actually thought I would have to let him qualify,’’ Whincup said. “But thankfully I recovered. The track was perfect and the tyres were really grippy.’’
Whincup’s title rivals were hot on his heels – Ford’s Chaz Mostert was 0.2 sec behind.
“I am really happy to come here and be quick,’’ the Prodrive Racing Australia driver said. “We haven’t been comfortable here before so it is a great feeling to get a lap.’’
Practice opened with a high- profile scare when championship contender Scott McLaughlin slapped a tyre wall on his very first run.
Scratching his Ford with the millimetre misjudgment, the DJR Team Penske ace overshot the exit to the turn 14 chicane. “Saturday’s going to be wet, so we’re trying to find a bit of a confidence booster, that wasn’t it,’’ McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin recovered for fourth as fellow title chasers Fabian Coulthard and Shane Van Gisbergen finished near the top.
The drama continued late in the session when Simona De Silvestro put her Nissan into a wall, forcing a red flag to end practice. Bathurst champion Dave Reynolds also bumped a wall yesterday.
“I just got caught behind a car and lost my focus,’’ he said.
‘‘ There wasn’t much damage, so we will survive.’’
Sandown winner Richie Stanaway mounted a late challenge to show he and Cameron Waters would be a Gold Coast force in their Ford.