hero-img

Whincup explains qualifying switch

07 Oct 2022
Whincup qualified over Feeney, but missed Shootout
2 mins by James Pavey
Advertisement

Jamie Whincup says it was a team decision for him to qualify over Broc Feeney on Friday.

Whincup took the reins of the #88 Red Bull Ampol Commodore for qualifying.

It didn’t pay dividends, however, with Whincup qualifying 14th.

It was a trying session on both sides of the garage, with Shane van Gisbergen penalised after a clash with Macauley Jones.

Whincup threatened to clinch a Shootout berth as rain fell, but was bumped out late on.

The decision was made after Whincup showed stronger pace than Feeney in the preceding practice session.

"The team made the decision for myself to qualify #88,” he said.

“They thought I was the best option considering the tough conditions out there.

"I certainly didn’t put my hand up and say that I should be qualifying.

"I took the opportunity and did the best I could, but I would have loved to have been in the top ten but it wasn’t to be today.

"All we can do now is look forward to the race and who knows what Sunday has in store for us.”

It ensures Whincup and Feeney will have to fight through the field on Sunday.

History is against them; the Bathurst 1000 has never been won from 14th on the grid.

“It was a disappointing qualifying result in the end,” Whincup said.

Advertisement

"We were in the top ten the whole time, but then we just dropped out at the last minute.

"I’m yet to look at the data to find out what’s actually gone on.

“The track was drying out and getting faster and we weren’t accelerating as far forward as the rest of the field were.

"It’s still TBC why that is, but overall, it’s disappointing.”

Feeney was adamant the decision to put Whincup in the car was the right call.

"I’m still building up my confidence in a Supercar at this track in the wet,” Feeney said.

"We put Jamie in at the end of the session to make sure everything was all good and he went really well.

"He went straight to the top and ended up in P2, so the decision was made to put Jamie in the car for qualifying just on the basis that he was faster.

"It’s a good thing for me - I was happy to sit back and was well and truly happy for him to qualify today.

"We just missed it towards the end of qualifying which is a shame, but we managed to get P14 and we know we can do it from there."

Co-drivers will tackle Practice 5 at 10:20am local time on Saturday morning.

Saturday's Shootout will commence at 5:05pm local time.

Top 5 to watch at the Repco Bathurst 1000

Related News

Advertisement