Whincup’s set for battle on and off NZ track
SUPERCARS championship leader Jamie Whincup already has a two-pronged DJR Team Penske assault to deal with – now he will have to overcome a patriotic New Zealand crowd spurring on their heroes.
The Supercars field will head across the ditch for the season’s penultimate round at Pukekohe starting today.
It will mark a homecoming for both of DJR Team Penske’s drivers Fabian Coulthard and Scott McLaughlin, as well as Whincup’s teammate and title hopeful Shane van Gisbergen. Kiwi legend Greg Murphy, a four-time Bathurst 1000 champion, feels the bar will be higher than ever for Whincup to compete with.
“I always felt it – I don’t know why – but when you came home you sort of tended to have a bit of a lift,” Murphy told the Bulletin.
“My expectation would be that we are going to see Kiwis on the podium and there is a very, very good chance based on performances McLaughlin and Shane and Fabian have had this year that they are all going to be up there somewhere close to the top.”
A self-confessed fan of Whincup’s, Murphy stopped short of predicting a hostile reception for the six-time series winner and Gold Coaster.
“There is plenty in New Zealand who will appreciate his professionalism,” he said.
“(But) when you’re as successful as he has been, people like to also throw stones if they can. When people have as many wins and as many championships or those kinds of things, some people like to find a way to be negative.”