He’s a four-time Bathurst 1000 champion but it’s fair to say when it comes to Jamie Whincup’s relationship with Mt Panorama, it’s complicated.
The Red Bull Holden Racing Team star last stood on a podium after the Bathurst 1000 in 2013, with his recent history in the great race marred by bad luck, costly decisions and penalties.
Whincup’s list of mishaps at Bathurst have been remarkable for the winningest driver in Supercars history.
In 2014 his Commodore ran out of fuel. A year later he double-stacked in pitlane and then received a drive-through penalty for passing the safety car.
Another infringement in 2016, when he drove across the finish line first, led to a 15-second time penalty and an 11th-place finish.
In 2017 an engine valve broke. In 2018 a wheel flew off Whincup’s Commodore while co-driver Paul Dumbrell was in the driver’s seat.
Last year, Whincup and co-driver Craig Lowndes came fourth, as Ford rival Scott McLaughlin claimed his maiden Bathurst crown in controversial fashion.
“I’ve been really proud of the fact that we’ve still been in contention most years and contributed to the race,” Whincup told AAP about his recent Bathurst past.
“As we all know it hasn’t gone my way on many occasions and I haven’t stood on the podium for a long time up there.
“That’s the obvious goal.”
The 2019 reunion with Lowndes, the driver pairing that claimed a three-peat of Bathurst wins from 2006-08, will be back again this year in what will be Red Bull’s last race as Holden’s factory team with the iconic Australian motoring brand to be ‘retired’ by parent company General Motors.
In a COVID-19 affected year, lap times for the various co-drivers has been limited but in seven-time Bathurst winner Lowndes, Whincup believes he has the ideal man to tackle the mountain.
“I’ll be doing everything I can to give Lowndesy as many laps, as you can in the seven hours of practice before the event,” Whincup said.
“Lowndesy knows the track very well.
“We’ll give him a heap of practice and I feel that means he’ll get the most out of himself come raceday.”