Red Bull Holden Racing’s Jamie Whincup has won the Townsville round of the 2020 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship after taking two wins and a third place.
Current points leader Scott McLaughlin struggled most of the weekend but savaged a win in the final third race of the weekend.
“Three podiums and the overall round win in Townsville, I couldn’t be happier,” commented Whincup. “The car was fantastic right from the word go today. We got a good start in the first race and had a good battle with Chaz (Mostert) down into Turn 2. From there, the car was excellent, and I was able to hold position. We changed our strategy a bit and pitted late, which gave us some good tyres there at the end.
“(David) Cauchi did a great job all weekend and the strategy was fantastic again for today’s second race as well; staying out until late, putting two tyres on and bolting home to the end. I’m really proud of the entire crew for their efforts, although we have to do it all again next weekend. Thanks to all the fans who came out and supported us this weekend too, it was great to see so many faces around the track cheering us on.”
A mistake in the opening qualifying session immediately put McLaughlin on the back-foot. McLaughlin made an uncharacteristic mistake on the entry to turn 1, locking the brakes and going wide on exit. Hence he missed the Shootout and started down in P16, finishing the first race (Race 19) in seventh.
“I knew the car was fast, so I just wanted to get through turn two, which we did,” said McLaughlin. It was pretty crazy with the spin and everyone going everywhere. But I got through there and had a pretty solid race through to the end.”
Starting 13th for Race 20, McLaughlin finished sixth while Whincup’s second race win saw him continue to eat into McLaughlins series lead.
Starting from pole for the final Race 21, McLaughlin’s win appeared quite straight forward but it was Cam Waters who piled the pressure on the leader for most of the race.
“For the final race, it was all about getting a good start and controlling it from there. Again the stop was amazing, and that’s what really won us the race, the pit stop.” The win now giving McLaughlin a 123-point championship lead over Whincup.
Drivers’ championship (Top 15)
1/ Scott McLaughlin 1556
2/ Jamie Whincup 1433
3/ Chaz Mostert 1172
4/ Shane van Gisbergen 1157
5/ Cameron Waters 1157
6/ Nick Percat 1069
7/ David Reynolds 1046
8/ Mark Winterbottom 1024
9/ Fabian Coulthard 1018
10/ Lee Holdsworth 993
11/ Anton De Pasquale 929
12/ James Courtney 890
13/ Scott Pye 884
14/ Andre Heimgartner 836
15/ Jack Le Brocq 776
Race Results
Race 19
| 1 | Jamie Whincup |
| 2 | Cameron Waters |
| 3 | Chaz Mostert |
| 4 | Fabian Coulthard |
| 5 | David Reynolds |
| 6 | James Courtney |
| 7 | Scott McLaughlin |
| 8 | Bryce Fullwood |
| 9 | Scott Pye |
| 10 | Anton De Pasquale |
| 11 | Chris Pither |
| 12 | Mark Winterbottom |
| 13 | Lee Holdsworth |
| 14 | Garry Jacobson |
| 15 | Jack Le Brocq |
| 16 | Jack Smith |
| 17 | Rick Kelly |
| 18 | Alex Davison |
| 19 | Shane van Gisbergen |
| DNF | Nick Percat |
| DNF | Zane Goddard |
| DNF | Andre Heimgartner |
| DNF | Todd Hazelwood |
| DNF | Macauley Jones |
Race 20
| 1 | Jamie Whincup |
| 2 | Chaz Mostert |
| 3 | Shane van Gisbergen |
| 4 | Cameron Waters |
| 5 | Nick Percat |
| 6 | Scott McLaughlin |
| 7 | James Courtney |
| 8 | Anton De Pasquale |
| 9 | Scott Pye |
| 10 | David Reynolds |
| 11 | Lee Holdsworth |
| 12 | Jack Le Brocq |
| 13 | Todd Hazelwood |
| 14 | Andre Heimgartner |
| 15 | Fabian Coulthard |
| 16 | Garry Jacobson |
| 17 | Mark Winterbottom |
| 18 | Macauley Jones |
| 19 | Bryce Fullwood |
| 20 | Rick Kelly |
| 21 | Zane Goddard |
| 22 | Alex Davison |
| 23 | Jack Smith |
| 24 | Chris Pither |
Race 21
| Position | Driver |
| 1 | Scott McLaughlin |
| 2 | Cameron Waters |
| 3 | Jamie Whincup |
| 4 | Nick Percat |
| 5 | Todd Hazelwood |
| 6 | Scott Pye |
| 7 | Anton De Pasquale |
| 8 | Shane van Gisbergen |
| 9 | Lee Holdsworth |
| 10 | Mark Winterbottom |
| 11 | David Reynolds |
| 12 | Bryce Fullwood |
| 13 | James Courtney |
| 14 | Rick Kelly |
| 15 | Andre Heimgartner |
| 16 | Jack Le Brocq |
| 17 | Fabian Coulthard |
| 18 | Garry Jacobson |
| 19 | Zane Goddard |
| 20 | Alex Davison |
| 21 | Macauley Jones |
| 22 | Jack Smith |
| 23 | Chris Pither |
| 24 | Chaz Mostert |
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