Jamie puts the win in Whincup
Scott McLaughlin says it will be all on at the final round of the Supercars season, despite Jamie Whincup going into it with a 30-point lead in the championship.
Whincup became the Pukekohe party pooper yesterday, much to the disappointment of the 39,223 spectators wanting a Kiwi win.
With just one round of the championship to go, in Newcastle in three week’s time, Whincup has extended his lead, with a maximum of 300 left up for grabs.
It means if Whincup is able to finish at least second in both races at Newcastle, or ahead of McLaughlin he’ll take the title.
While Fabian Coulthard, Chaz Mostert and Shane van Gisbergen could still mathematically in the championship, realistically their title aspirations ended this weekend.
Although he has lost some ground on Whincup, McLaughlin says there’s everything still to play for.
‘‘It’s the first time in my career I’ve been able to have a go at the Supercars championship,’’ McLaughlin said.
‘‘I guess it’s a bit of a dream come true, but I need to tick another box and try to win the thing.’’
As well as move a small step closer to winning his seventh Supercars title, Whincup has become the first driver to twice win the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy, named in honour of the late New Zealand driver, who died with cancer in 2011 at the age of 35.
‘‘It’s been a bit of a drought this year,’’ Whincup said.
‘‘I was a team-mate of JR in 2005, we were good mates, we got up to no good together for a couple of years, so it’s a special moment and it’s one of the biggest accolades of the year.’’
Being more experienced and with a slight lead, Whincup will go into Newcastle as the slight favour- ite, but the 24-year-old McLaughlin won’t be overawed about having the biggest race weekend of his life, where so much is at stake.
It will be a weekend where he knows he’ll have to finish ahead of Whincup in at least one race
‘‘I’ve been in battles,’’ McLaughlin said.
‘‘Like last year trying to get to third in the championship, where I had to beat just one guy [Craig Lowndes].
‘‘So I sort of have an idea of what to do and at the end of the day I’ve just got to beat him.
We’ll go there, be the chaser and enjoy it.’’