A FRESH OUTLOOK

A fresh outlook – Image: Mick Reynolds

Changes at Triple Eight Race Engineering during the off-season have provided a fresh perspective on the upcoming Supercars season according to seven-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup as the team prepare to avenge the demons of 2020.

By HEATH McALPINE AND MICK REYNOLDS

In a season like no other, which started off perfectly for Whincup when he won the opening race of the year in Adelaide, a spate of mistakes both on and off-track dropped him out of contention for title number eight before the final round at Bathurst.

This was compounded by crashing out of the Bathurst 1000 before quarter distance.

However, the Triple Eight mainstay believes an engineering shuffle and his impending retirement to assume Roland Dane’s role as team principal and managing director has ensured a refreshed attitude within the team.

“It’s as fresh this year as it ever has,” Whincup declared.

“We’ve all got a pep in our step and we’re looking forward to a good year, and that’s all you need to fix the mistakes in my opinion.”

Whincup’s long-time relationship with engineer David Cauchi is broken this season as he aligns with teammate Shane van Gisbergen amid the departure of Grant McPherson to Walkinshaw Andretti United.

Replacing Cauchi is experienced engineer Wes McDougall, who worked with Marcos Ambrose during his back-to-back V8 Supercars titles in 2003 and 2004. McDougall moves across from Triple Eight customer team Matt Stone Racing where he guided Todd Hazelwood to the Super2 crown in 2017.

Whincup expects the same adversities experienced in 2020 to linger this year, but is confident the team has learnt to cope with these.

“Although we’ll be battling a similar challenge in 2021, we’ll get more used to it and I think with the new look cars, the changes in the engineering, the massive changes internally, it feels fresh,” he explained

“It was the same for everyone, but it was an interrupted year with COVID and it felt weird.

“We just didn’t have our mojo like we normally do.”

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