Whincup dodges race ban

JAMIE Whincup will have to spend time observing officials in race control, but has avoided a ban for his extraordinary attack on CAMS officials after the safety car controversy at Pukekohe last weekend.

The seven-time Supercars champion has formally apologised for his outburst as CAMS – the governing body for Australian motorsport – also accepted mistakes were made from their end.

Tickford Racing’s Cameron Waters has also avoided sanction after delivering a written apology to CAMS.

Whincup and Waters were both issued with please-explain notices for post-race comments criticising race officials in Auckland after the safety car dramas.

The Triple Eight star accused officials of not operating on the same level as the teams and “having a few glasses of red each night”, while Waters said “race control managed to screw that one up royally”.

Whincup said his comments had been out of place and accepted an opportunity to observe how officials operate in race control, but no further action will be taken against him.

“I would like to offer my sincere apologies to the race control officials, and officials more broadly, for my comments following the recent Supercars round in Auckland,” he said.

“While the comments were made in the heat of the moment following a long weekend, these kind of comments about our officials have no place in our sport.

“Everyone in the paddock is aware that we simply couldn’t compete without the dedication and sacrifices of all officials and I apologise unreservedly for any offence I have caused.”