Whincup braced for 'challenge' of succeeding Dane
05 Mar 2022
The first day in the big chair wasn't lost on new Triple Eight Race Engineering team boss Jamie Whincup.
Whincup, who retired from full-time racing last year, has assumed the team principal and managing director roles from Roland Dane.
Between 2003 and 2021, Dane skippered over 200 race wins, nine drivers' titles, 10 teams' titles and eight Bathurst wins.
Whincup's transition to team leadership has featured newfound fatherhood, a test day and, most recently, controversy.
Other side of pit wall: Inside Whincup's test day appearance
Friday in Sydney was punctuated by Triple Eight threatening legal action amid David Cauchi's move to Grove Racing.
Whincup labelled the Cauchi situation a "distraction" but his bigger focus is ensuring Triple Eight remains a force at the front in Supercars.
"I’m certainly my own person, but RD has been doing this for a long time," Whincup said on Friday.
"He’s someone that I look up to and he’s done an unbelievable job.
"To try to keep that trajectory that RD’s held for the last 15 years is going to be a challenge.
"I back myself like I always do… hopefully we’ll keep doing good things."
Whincup's replacement Broc Feeney was 10th and 14th in the two Friday practice sessions in Sydney.
Reigning champion Shane van Gisbergen spun in Practice 1, and was 16th and sixth.
Whincup watched on from the garage, the first time since 2005 that he hasn't raced a Triple Eight car.
The 39-year-old has also had to balance his newfound duties of being a father, with his daughter born earlier this year.
Whincup watching on from the garage on Friday
While his new role with Triple Eight is his new work focus, Whincup says being a father is as rewarding a challenge as he expected.
"It's hectic, there's plenty going one," he said of fatherhood.
"Mum's doing a great job... she knows how important it is for me to get to T8 to make sure these two race cars are fast.
"I'm loving every minute, it's all good fun."
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