JAMIE’S DECISION

Jamie’s decision – Photo: LAT

Triple Eight chief Roland Dane is half-hoping Jamie Whincup will quit full-time racing in Supercars next year to accelerate the handover of running the team.

By MARK FOGARTY

Whincup has revealed that he plans to make a decision about his future before the season-opening Adelaide 500 late next month.

The possibility that he might not continue is offset by confirmation that Shane van Gisbergen secretly extended his contract with Red Bull Holden Racing Team until the end of next year.

Dane is looking to Whincup, a minority co-owner of Triple Eight Race Engineering, to eventually replace him as the team’s principal.

Whincup, who will be 37 on February 6, revealed that he has been seriously weighing his future in recent weeks.

His choice is between renewing with Triple Eight or retiring, with moving to another Supercars team to end his career not a consideration.

Whincup was unclear on whether quitting Supercars would mean retiring completely from driving or whether he’d still be available as a co-driver for the endurance races with Triple Eight and GT guest drives.

Winner of a record seven Supercars championships and 117 races, he has been with Triple Eight since 2006, also winning the Bathurst 1000 four times and a Bathurst 12 Hour with the supersquad.

He has prepared for his life after driving by establishing a successful car wash/cafe on the Gold Coast, buying a shareholding in Triple Eight and joining the rule-making Supercars Commission.

As Whincup ponders his racing future, Dane revealed that van Gisbergen has extended his contract to next year, coinciding with the final season of Triple Eight’s Holden factory team deal.

“We haven’t told anyone until I’m telling you now,” Dane said. “We extended his contract at the end of November to cover 2021 as well.”

He added that while he had considered possible replacements for Whincup, he hadn’t yet drawn up a shortlist of candidates.

“Not yet, but if it happens, then I will,” Dane said.

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