LACK OF QUALI SIMS COST WHINCUP
By Dan McCarthy
Date posted: 3 December 2021
Seven-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup missed out on a spot in the Top 10 Shootout and has put it down to lack of green tyre running in practice.
The Triple Eight Race Engineering driver believes that leading into qualifying a lack of green tyre runs cost him dearly.
Quali simulation laps in practice at Bathurst allow a driver to build confidence, and with limited laps prior was unable to go much faster.
Whincup sat inside the top 10 when the chequered flag fell, however he was pushed out of the top 10 by Blanchard Racing Team driver Tim Slade.
In his final qualifying session as a full-time driver, a frustrated Whincup believed the car was fast enough to make it into the top 10, however with limited new tyre running over the first two days was unable to capitalise.
“Not ideal,” he remarked after the session. “Not ideal at all!
“Have plenty of excuses. We didn’t get the green runs in practice before, they’re a good opportunity to get up to speed, go away and look at the data and then and then work away from there. That ultimately probably hurt us.
“The car was probably good enough, but once you start picking up that pace, keep getting right into the (two minute) fours then the track is almost completely different.”
Although disappointed, Whincup is determined to get his head down and continue to fight for the victory on Sunday.
“Disappointed with that but what can you do? Put your head down and see if we can see me make it up in the race,” Whincup said.
Teamed up with seven-time ‘Great race’ winner Craig Lowndes for the seventh time, the ultra-experienced combination will fight for their fourth Bathurst 1000 win as a pairing having won the race from 2006-2008.
Despite the disappointment of qualifying, Whincup is very confident that he and Lowndes have a fast and comfortable race car for Sunday and expressed that the qualifying disappointment won’t change the way they attack the race.
“It won’t change our approach at all,” Whincup said. “We’ll still continue to do what we do, I think we’ve got a quick race car so we’ll see what Sunday throws at us.”
For more of the latest Supercars news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and/or weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.
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