Whincup claims Darwin glory by slimmest of margins after ‘great battle’

Jamie Whincup showed why many regard him as the greatest Supercar driver of all time, bouncing back from a heavy crash yesterday morning to today claim the coveted BetEasy Darwin Triple Crown title.

The Red Bull Holden Racing Team ace won the final race of the event this afternoon to finish the weekend equal on top of the round’s points table with Shell Ford’s Fabian Coulthard.

Whincup’s career victory #120 in the final race meant in a count back, he was awarded the Triple Crown title for 2020.

It capped off a roller coaster weekend for the seven-time Virgin Australia Supercars Champion, who yesterday in practice crashed heavily into a wall after skidding off the Hidden Valley circuit.

The final result of the weekend saw Whincup win Race 15 from two-time defending Supercars Champion Scott McLaughlin, Whincup’s kiwi teammate Shane van Gisbergen was third.

“That was a great battle,” said Whincup. “That reminded me of the old 2017/18 days when we were going head-to-head with these boys.

“We just kept chipping away at the car all weekend and made it fastest for race three.

“I thought after the penalty yesterday we were done and dusted for the Triple Crown but fantastic to have a great day and get right up there.”

With tire strategy key to the weekend’s results, the top teams played it to perfection to come out on top.

Penrite Racing’s Anton De Pasquale who won his maiden Supercars race yesterday, entered the final race of the weekend holding a 10-point lead over Coulthard in the Triple Crown standings, but had no quality tires in hand, in the end De Pasquale finished the final race of the event back in 23rd position.

The critical moment of today’s final race was a pit stop where Whincup and Coulthard almost collided as the Red Bull Holden was exiting and the Shell Mustang was entering.

Coulthard slowed to avoid a collision with the #88 Commodore. Post-race the kiwi said things could have been very different had Whincup waited a second longer.

“I think the witness mark on the front of my car and the skid mark to stop to avoid him (Whincup) is pretty clear,” said Coulthard post-race.

“Blind Freddie could have seen that I was impeded. That cost me the position to Chaz. If I’d stayed in front of Chaz, the outcome would have been very different.

“Who knows what’s going to happen? It might not be the last you hear of this.”

McLaughlin now holds a 101-point Championship lead over Whincup, Chaz Mostert is third and van Gisbergen is fourth.

After a chaotic and drama-filled weekend, teams will now have five days to prepare for the second event of the Darwin double-header, the CoreStaff SuperSprint to be held next weekend, 22-23 August at Hidden Valley.

Darwin Race 2 Results

Darwin Race 3 Results

Current Supercars Standings after five rounds

1. Scott McLaughlin – 1024
2. Jamie Whincup – 923
3. Chaz Mostert – 814
4. Shane van Gisbergen – 753
5. David Reynolds – 736
6. Cam Waters – 733
7. Mark Winterbottom – 706
8. Nick Percat – 705
9. Fabian Coulthard – 682
10. Lee Holdsworth – 675
11. Andre Heimgartner
12. Anton De Pasquale
13. Jack Le Brocq
14. Rick Kelly
15. James Courtney
16. Todd Hazelwood
17. Scott Pye
18. Bryce Fullwood
19. Jack Smith
20. Macauley Jones
21. Garry Jacobson
22. Chris Pither
23. Alex Davison
24. Will Davison
25. Zane Goddard