Supercars EV14 17 0257
Supercars EV14 17 0315
17 McLaughlin 90I0829
GP Supercars 001 6bro
Supercars EV14 17 0423
Bruce Newton23 Nov 2017
NEWS

MOTORSPORT: Whincup favourite in title shootout

New track, new challenger, but six-time Supercars champ has 30-point lead

There’s a new track and a new challenger, but the consistent thing about this year’s Supercars championship decider this weekend in Newcastle is Jamie Whincup. He’s in it to win it yet again.

When he won the title for the sixth time in 2014, Whincup set a record beyond any other Australian touring car/Supercar great.

Now, after a two-year ‘drought’, he is in the box seat for number seven, leading the championship by 30 points ahead of Kiwi Scott McLaughlin, who has never been in the Supercars title fight before.

The two of them will battle it out over two 250km races on the streets of Newcastle. It’s a brand-new track on which no-one has had the chance to test or drive at speed beforehand.

17 McLaughlin 90I0829

While the track has plenty of elevation change through its 2.6km and 12 turns, the fight for the title seems to be pitched on a level playing field.

You could do your head in trying to calculate the many different combinations that could lead to Whincup or McLaughlin winning the championship.

It’s a simpler proposition for the Red Holden Racing Team Commodore VFII driver of course. Those 30 points give him coverage. If he beats McLaughlin home he wins. Simple as that.

If the DJR Team Penske driver wins both races and he collects the maximum 300 points in his Shell V-Power Ford Falcon FG X then he must rely on Whincup finishing lower than second in at least one race. If Whincup goes 2-2 he wins the title by six points, if he goes 2-3 he loses by three points.

There are three other drivers still in theoretical contention, but Fabian Coulthard (-176 points), Chaz Mostert (-264) and Shane van Gisbergen (-276) would need a succession of motor racing miracles to snatch the driver’s title.

Supercars EV14 17 0423

Considering the driver who has led into the last round for the last nine years has won the championship then history suggest that just isn’t going to happen.

There’s another title up for grabs this weekend and that’s’ the teams’ championship. Win that and you get pitlane garage priority in 2018. The closer to the exit the better. Shell V-Power Racing leads Red Bull by 105 points with 576 points up for grabs.

RBHRT and its Tripe Eight-run predecessors have won the teams’ title eight times. But it would be a first for DJR Team Penske, either in its current co-owned structure or back when Dick Johnson was sole owner.

Away from the championship battles, Supercars and its teams have continued to sort out their plan for 2018. Recent announcements have included:

The appointment of advertising executive Sean Seamer to replace James Warburton as Supercars CEO. The New Zealander moves from MediaCom, where he worked for 15 years, including as CEO of the local division since 2015.

GP Supercars 001 6bro

The retirement of Todd Kelly from driving. The carsales.com.au Nissan Altima driver won 19 races including the 2005 Bathurst 1000 during a full-time career that started in 2000.

The retirement of Jason Bright from full-time driving. A winner of 20 races including the 1998 Bathurst 1000, he twice finished third in the championship. Bright’s situation is complicated as he owns a Racing Entitlements Contract (REC) which he will have to lease or sell for next season.

Question marks also surround the futures of Will Davison and James Moffat, while Richie Stanaway and James Golding are both expected to soon be confirmed in seats at Prodrive and Garry Rogers Motorsport respectively.

A new team that will enter the championship in 2018, dubbed 23Red Racing. It takes over from the old Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport and will run a single Prodrive Falcon for a yet-to-be announced driver -- potentially Garry Jacobson or Jack Le Brocq.

Dumbrell owns a 40 per cent stake in the new operation and long-time sponsor Phil Munday the remaining 60 per cent. Retired driver Cam McConville will be team director.

Meanwhile here's what to look out for in Newcastle this weekend:

>> The Coates Hire Newcastle 500 comprises the 25th and 26th races of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship. It includes practice on Friday and qualifying and 250km races on Saturday and Sunday. There will also be a top 10 shootout on Sunday.

>> All qualifying and racing will be conducted on the 2017-spec Dunlop soft tyre.

>> The brand-new anti-clockwise 2.6km street track has 12 turns and is expected to be completed in around 70 secs, according to simulations.

>> Whatever transpires this weekend, Scott McLaughlin can’t be beaten for the Armor All pole award. He has 14 with Shane van Gisbergen next best on three!

>> McLaughlin also has the most wins with seven. If Van Gisbergen sweeps Newcastle he can match him for the season.

>> 2015 Supercars champion Mark Winterbottom will make his 196th Supercars championship round start in Newcastle, placing him 15th on the all-time list.

>> Winterbottom need a victory in Newcastle to avoid his first winless season in 12 years. Currently eighth in the championship he also faces his worst season finish since joining Prodrive in 2006.

>> Fabian Coulthard will make his 350th championship race start on Saturday in Newcastle.

Share this article
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Disclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.

If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
Download the carsales app
    AppStoreDownloadGooglePlayDownload
    App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
    © CAR Group Ltd 1999-2024
    In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.