Whincup closes strong

SEVEN-TIME Supercars champion Jamie Whincup has won the final race of the season, clinching the Newcastle 500.

It was the 118th win of Whincup’s career and fifth of the season, but he missed out on the teams’ championship yesterday after Triple Eight teammate Shane van Gisbergen finished seventh.

Scott McLaughlin, who had already clinched the drivers’ championship, finished fourth, while teammate Fabian Coulthard was second and Tim Slade third.

McLaughlin and Coulthard’s DJR Team Penske held on to claim the 2019 teams’ title.

It marks back-to-back drivers’ championships for McLaughlin who has dominated 2019 with 18 wins from 32 races, including his maiden Bathurst 1000 crown, to take the crown by 562 points.

“I’m so glad to finally be able to celebrate. We won the teams’ championship, too — that’s bloody awesome,” McLaughlin said.“I’m just glad it’s all done and we can party now. I can’t wait to have a few beers tonight.

“Any time an organisation can win 18 wins in a single car [is great] but then 20 wins as an organisation is pretty impressive.

“Those results come from all the people who put the work in behind the scenes. When the chips are down, we come back.

“We don’t care what’s been said — we just get on with it.”

Van Gisbergen and

Whincup won the two races in Newcastle at the weekend and finished second and third in the drivers’ standings.

Whincup backed Triple Eight to return stronger in 2020 and stop McLaughlin getting a Supercars “three-peat”.

“We fought hard right to the end,” Whincup said.

“We didn’t have that much performance at the start of the year but we chipped away and two wins this weekend for the team gives us confidence going into next year.”