Jamie Whincup streets field to win in Townsville

[Nergal]

 

JAMIE Whincup resurrected his back-to-back championship bid on Saturday with the Red Bull Holden Racing record breaker blitzing the field to give himself a shot at the crown.

The Holden great saved his season by beating teammate Shane van Gisbergen and DJR/Team Pesnke pilot Scott McLaughlin with one of his most dominant drives.

Bouncing back from a run of outs, Whincup led the race by a staggering 14 seconds before going on to record the championship-reviving win.

“We have been a little bit off our game so we had to remind ourselves that we could still do the job,’’ Whincup said.

“They gave me an absolute rocket today and I had a lot of fun. I got the lead near the start and we got a one-two for the team so I could not be happier.’’

Whincup also kept his Townsville crown by racking up his 10th win on the Reed Park street track to confirm himself as the North Queensland king.

“Ten (wins) from 10 (Townsville events) sounds pretty good,’’ Whincup said.

“I don’t know what it is about Townsville. They are just great people up here and it is a great place. We just dig deep here and always put in our best performances.

“We will get some sleep tonight and comeback and try and do it again tomorrow.’’

Whincup was forced into an early fight with championship leader Scott McLaughlin after the Ford flyer continued his stunning qualifying to score his 8th pole position of the year.

Going hard early to take full advantage of the overcast conditions, the DJR/Team Penske star clocked a time of 1.12.12 to confirm himself as the one lap king.

“I made a massive blue on the last run there so luckily no one went faster,” McLaughlin said.

“But we have a fantastic car and we’ll just see if we can do it in the race.”

The race started in dramatic fashion when Dave Reynolds and Shane van Gisbergen made a charge from the second row to attack both Whincup and McLaughlin.

Reynolds went close to putting a move on Whincup for second place but was kept out as McLaughlin claimed the lead.

McLaughlin was quickly dumped to second with Whincup blasting past the Ford on lap No.2.

With an inch perfect pass he went to the front.

And then he was gone.

“That one was tough,’’ McLaughlin said.

“We just didn’t have the pace. Jamie was fast and from the get go. I got him at the start and thought it was my day and then he just came blistering past.

“I had nothing for him to be honest.’’

In a stunning show of speed, Whincup had floored his way to lead McLaughlin by 10 seconds after just 20 laps.

The race hurtled towards a dramatic finish when a lap 54 safety car saw Whincup 10 second lead wiped-out in a cruel blow.

The Holden hero was hurled into a 13 lap one-on-one fight with teammate van Gisbergen when the race resumed.

“We have some awesome cars here,’’ van Gisbergen said.

“I really enjoyed that race. I am stoked for a one-two. We just need to make our car a little better for tomorrow and we will take them on.’’