Timeline set on Whincup replacement announcement

Jamie Whincup has flagged the end of the month as when his Red Bull Ampol Racing replacement will be announced.

Whincup will retire from full-time competition at season’s end, and will lead the team in 2022.

He trails Shane van Gisbergen, who is contracted until 2023 with the team, by 276 points in the 2021 standings.

The seven-time champion announced his retirement before the 2021 season began. Ever since, speculation has been rife about who will fill the coveted seat.

Triple Eight Race Engineering’s Super2 ace Broc Feeney, who will race alongside Russell Ingall in a Bathurst wildcard, has been strongly linked to the drive.

Speaking in Supercars.com’s all-time team principal chat, Whincup said an announcement is just around the corner.

"We’re not far away,” the 123-time race winner said.

"We’ll let everyone know who my replacement is before the end of the month.

"So watch this space.”

At the Darwin event in June, Whincup flagged his replacement would be handed a two-year deal.

While Feeney appears to be the front-runner, the team stated at the time of Whincup's retirement it would assess the market.