Bathurst 1000: Why 2016 controversy still rankles with Triple Eight boss and Jamie Whincup
Jamie Whincup has won four times at Bathurst but it’s the one that got away five years ago that still burns deep not only for the retiring driver himself but also his boss.
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Triple Eight boss Roland Dane has declared Jamie Whincup should have at least one more Bathurst 1000 win to his name after the 2016 crown was “stolen off him” in a result the seven-time champion said was “still hard to accept”.
As the retiring Whincup aims to go out on a high by adding to his four Bathurst 1000 titles in his final race as a full-time driver at Mount Panorama this week, Dane remained adamant his long-time star had been robbed five years ago.
In a dramatic edition of the 2016 race, Whincup took the chequered flag but he had been handed a 15-second time penalty which relegated him to 11th place with Tekno Autosport pair Will Davison and Jonathon Webb crowned the winners.
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Whincup had been penalised for an incident with Scott McLaughlin which became a three-way tangle with Garth Tander late in the race.
Triple Eight’s appeal against the time penalty was dismissed by the Supercars National Court of Appeal nine days later.
Reflecting on Whincup’s hits and misses at the Bathurst 1000 ahead of his final race, Dane said the win had been taken away from the team due to “somebody’s personal opinion”.
“Over the years Jamie has lost one, the team have lost a couple for him where he definitely should have won and he had one stolen off him in 2016, which he won,” Dane said.
“The powers that be took that win away from him, but he won the race.
“It’s not a question of feeling hard done by, the reality is we have moved on from it a long time ago, but Jamie won the race.
“Unfortunately, the inconsistency of application of the rules meant that somebody’s personal opinion took it away from us.
“But it is what it is and we have moved on a long time ago but it’s one of the moments when the sport didn’t cover itself in glory.
“He knows that he won it … he has put it behind him and it’s a shame to really undermine the performance of Will Davison and Jono Webb that day, who got the trophy, but the reality is that Jamie won it.”
The controversy unfolded when Whincup attempted a pass on the inside of the effective race leader McLaughlin at The Chase on lap 150 but made contact which forced the Garry Rogers Motorsport Volvo wide.
Whincup slowed on the exit in a bid to redress the clash but Tander was caught behind him and as the then Holden Racing Team driver moved right in a bid to move past, he collided with McLaughlin as he rejoined.
Whincup’s penalty was for “careless driving” in the initial incident with McLaughlin.
Supercars’ greatest championship driver said the result still left a bitter taste.
“I don’t want to disrespect the eventual winners of that race but, for sure, we thought we were harshly punished,” Whincup said.
“I’ve had a lot go my way and a lot not go my way at Bathurst, it’s the nature of the event.
“But not many people have crossed the line first at Bathurst and not won the race.
“That was and it is still hard to accept that one.
“Of course I was disappointed to not get the (win), I couldn’t stand on the top step of the podium after I crossed the line first but that’s Bathurst and that’s the nature of the Great Race.”
While he is a four-time winner of the Great Race (2006-2008 with Craig Lowndes and 2012 with Paul Dumbrell), the 2016 race is one in a series of heartbreaking results for Whincup at the famous circuit.
In 2014, he ran out of fuel on the last lap, allowing Chaz Mostert to steal a dramatic win, copped a penalty for passing a safety car in 2015 and had his race hopes dashed after losing a wheel in 2018 with co-driver Paul Dumbrell in the cockpit.
He crashed out of last year’s race after slamming into the wall attempting to make a pass at turn three just 33 laps into the race.
The greatest moment of V8 GOAT’s career
He is the V8 immortal with a racing CV like no other.
The unofficial Supercars GOAT, Jamie Whincup will cut his last laps as a full-time V8 driver at this week’s season-ending Bathurst 1000.
Hanging up the helmet to take on the role as team boss for Triple Eight next year, it marks the end of one of the greatest careers in Australian motorsport.
Seven championships. Four Bathurst 1000 crowns. More race wins, poles and podiums than any other driver, there is little Whincup has not accomplished in Supercars.
While there still is the potential for Whincup to return as a co-driver for Triple Eight next year, his retirement means the series will bid farewell to one of its greatest competitors.
Whincup will leave behind him a new generation of drivers chasing his long list of records, some of which may take a long time to catch.
The seven-time champion and most winning driver in the history of the category reflects on the moments, the people and the cars that helped make his career.
GREATEST VICTORY
It was the most emotional moment of Whincup’s career.
The week after suffering the devastating loss of his biggest supporter, his father David after a short battle with cancer, Whincup produced a courageous victory that topped any other in his career.
Determined to race on after the toughest week of his life, Whincup was able to honour his late father in the best way possible with his brave win in the season-opening Adelaide 500.
“The one at the Clipsal 500 in 2012 was very special,” Whincup said.
“My father passed away the weekend before the season opener, so that was obviously a very special one that probably stands out from the rest.
“Dad was my father and my best mate all rolled into one, my biggest fan, the whole lot.
“He was more dedicated than I was in the first year (I started racing). He got me my first go-kart and dragged me to the go-kart track for the first 12 months.
“Then, of course, I fell in love with the sport and we both shared that dedication all the way up to 2012.”
Describing his father’s influence on his motorsport career as “monumental”, Whincup said he felt fortunate his dad had been able to see him make his mark on Supercars with his early championship wins.
“I always see the glass-half full and I’m just thankful that he was able to see me conquer a couple of championships or certainly win my first championship,” Whincup said.
“And he got to witness my sister having (his) grandkids as well. Those two things we are very grateful for and anything after that was a bonus.
“I have basically spent the past nine years just reminding friends and family to look after your parents, look after your mum and dad because they are not around forever.”
DEFINING MOMENTS
It was the podium finish that got Whincup noticed.
Whincup returned to the championship full-time in 2005 for Tasman Motorsport alongside the late Jason Richards after losing his drive with Garry Rogers Motorsport following just one year at the end of 2003.
The pair secured their first podium finish in the Sandown 500 and then followed it up with a runner-up finish at the Bathurst 1000. It caught the attention of Triple Eight boss Roland Dane, who signed Whincup up to team with Craig Lowndes in 2006.
“The podium at Bathurst in 2005 with Jason Richards was a defining moment for me to get me recognised,” Whincup said.
“It gave me the opportunity to join Triple Eight. Once I got the opportunity to join Triple Eight then I had that opportunity to prove my worth. So that was certainly a big one.”
Whincup also considers the opportunity to become a part-owner of Triple Eight in 2018 to allow him to extend his motorsport career off the track as another significant moment.
“The opportunity to be a team owner as well, that was two or three years ago now,” he said.
“So to be able to have the opportunity to be involved in the sport for a lot longer than me just in the car with a helmet on, they are probably the big ones.”
SEVENTH HEAVEN
Whincup finds it hard to pick a favourite of his seven Supercars championship wins.
The first title win in 2008 was special but it was his last crown in 2017 which delivered the “crazy fairytale” ending.
In a thrilling finale on the streets of Newcastle, Whincup sealed his seventh championship after a dramatic decider with Scott McLaughlin.
McLaughlin was in prime position to claim the title, only needing to finish 11th to be crowned champion for the first time.
But McLaughlin copped a post-race penalty after a collision with Lowndes on the penultimate lap, pushing him down to 18th and handing race winner Whincup the title win.
“The first title is very special but 2017, that was a crazy fairytale ending that you couldn’t write the script for,” Whincup said.
“You just couldn’t write that script. Those two are certainly front of mind in being special.”
Whincup famously celebrated by doing a backflip off a boat into the harbour.
Of his four Bathurst 1000 crowns, Whincup had a clear standout – his first with longtime teammate Lowndes in 2006 shortly after the death of V8 legend Peter Brock.
“The favourite among those was definitely the first which was in 2006 after Brocky passed away,” Whincup said.
“I was basically there for my mate Lowndesy that day and it was an incredible experience.”
Whincup and Lowndes could go on to win three consecutive Bathurst 1000 crowns.
AUSTRALIA HOME
While the likes of Marcos Ambrose and, more recently, McLaughlin took the leap to try their luck racing in the United States, Whincup has revealed the reason why he never opted to test his talents overseas.
Whincup admitted he had been tempted by the thought of heading overseas to race earlier in his career but his love for Australia was what held him back.
“At the time I made a decision around that 2010-2012 sort of era about going overseas and decided it was best for me to stay here in Australia,” Whincup said.
“Mainly because I’m crazy patriotic and love this country but still that was a factor and I feel like I made the right call.”
At the time, Whincup was in the middle of a run of four consecutive championship wins.
Whincup said he did not have overseas opportunities lined up and would have had to make it happen himself.
“I didn’t have any real opportunities but no one ever does, you have to go over there and chance that thing,” Whincup said.
“I am sure if I did, I am confident in myself I would have been able to make it happen, but I love Australia too much.
“I love Australia and Supercars that much that I wanted to stay.”
GREATEST RIVAL
Whincup has waged some fierce battles on the track across his Supercars career.
But there is one driver who has always been a constant presence – even dating back to his junior racing days.
“Great rivals, there have been a lot. But probably the longest serving rival would have to be Mark Winterbottom,” Whincup said.
“We had a rivalry in go-karts that went all the way through Formula Ford and then all the way into Supercars.
“It has been a healthy rivalry, it has been a bit of everything which has been fantastic. It would be Mark Winterbottom for sure.”
Winterbottom was runner-up in the championship the year Whincup won the first of his seven Supercars crowns and a top four finisher behind him during his run of four straight championship wins from 2011-14.
FAVOURITE CAR
Whincup gave names to the cars he has raced in Supercars, each of them a girls’moniker.
But there was one lady who was his favourite above all else, “Kate”.
Whincup remains the proud owner of “Kate”, the Holden VE Commodore he won the 2012 championship in and the Adelaide 500 that year not long after the loss of his father.
“My favourite race car is Kate, the 2012 race car that I currently own,” Whincup said.
“It is at The Bend Motorsport Park on display there.”
The final race car of Whincup’s career has already been sold off by the team.
“It’s just a small home loan to own these cars and then there is ongoing maintenance and storage so it is a lot of money,” Whincup said.
“I wanted to own one car and that was the 2012 car so I am very grateful for that.”
ON BEING THE GOAT
Whincup’s credentials in Supercars are unmatched, owning more championship titles and race wins than any driver in history.
But being labelled the GOAT is not a tag that sits comfortably with the V8 great.
“I don’t rate myself. That’s up to others to work that out,” Whincup said.
“There are no tags that have been presented to me that I dislike but I certainly don’t rate myself like that.”
Not placing himself in the category of drivers blessed with natural ability, Whincup attributed all of his success in Supercars to simple hard work.
“There are a couple of ways athletes get the most out of themselves,” Whincup said.
“There are athletes out there with just raw natural ability and there are athletes that need to really work at it. I have really had to work at it.
“I am proud that I have been able to dig deep when I have needed to and make it work whatever has been thrown at my path.”
THE JAMIE WIN-CUP CAREER
Age: 38
Supercars championships: Seven – 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017
Bathurst 1000 wins: Four – 2006-2008 (Craig Lowndes), 2012 (Paul Dumbrell)
Race wins: 124 (No. 1 all-time)
Podiums: 237 (No. 1 all-time)
Poles: 92 (No. 1 all-time)
Most championship wins in succession: Four 2011-14 (Equal 1st with Ian Geoghegan, 1966-69)
Round starts: 251
Race starts: 553
Four-time Adelaide 500 winner; three-time Sandown 500 winner; two-time Barry Sheene Medalist
SUPERCARS MOST CHAMPIONSHIP WINS
7 – Jamie Whincup – seven (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017)
5 – Ian Geoghegan (1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969), Dick Johnson (1981, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1989), Mark Skaife (1992, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2002)
4 – Allan Moffat (1973, 1976, 1977, 1983), Bob Jane (1962, 1963, 1971, 1972), Jim Richards (1985, 1987, 1990, 1991)
3 – Peter Brock (1974, 1978, 1980), Craig Lowndes (1996, 1998, 1999), Scott McLaughlin (2018, 2019, 2020)
MOST RACE WINS
1. Jamie Whincup 124
2. Craig Lowndes 110
3. Mark Skaife 90
4. Garth Tander, Scott McLaughlin 56
5. Shane van Gisbergen 54
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