Whincup’s farewell season starts
GOLD COAST: It’s his last chance to add to his record Supercars championship haul, but looming retirement will not be spurring on Jamie Whincup this season.
The seventime Supercars champion announced earlier this month that 2021 would be his final season as a fulltime driver before switching roles to become the team principal of Triple Eight Race Engineering.
His farewell season starts this weekend with the Bathurst 500 at Mount Panorama, but the Holden ace has dismissed any suggestion the decision to quit fulltime racing at season’s end will bring extra motivation.
‘‘I wouldn’t have signed up for this year if I didn’t think I was a chance,’’ the Red Bull Racing team driver said.
‘‘I’m going to go as hard as I’ve always gone.
‘‘I’d like to think I’ve prepared as well and given it absolutely everything in every championship I’ve been in, and this year’s no different.
‘‘If I could find a little extra for this year, then what the hell was I doing last year and beyond?’’
As well as a different starting venue, with the first Supercars sprint races at Bathurst in 25 years, the grid for this year’s championship has a completely different feel.
After three years of dominance, defending champion Scott McLaughlin has headed to the United States to pursue an IndyCar career, while American billionaire Roger Penske has also exited the championship.
It means Dick Johnson Racing will feature a completely new lineup with Anton De Pasquale and Will Davison the Ford team’s drivers.
Whincup says it is tough to gauge his rivals after such upheaval across the field.
‘‘I’ve never seen so many changes up in our pit lane as far as drivers and guys moving team to team,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m as eager as anyone to see where everything sort of pans out, come round 1 this weekend.’’
The Bathurst 500 begins today with practice before 250km races at the 6.2km track tomorrow and Sunday.