Winterbottom's cheeky quip at son after AGP podium
Mark Winterbottom scored first podium of 2024 on Friday
Team 18 driver raced from fourth to second in Race 4
The 2015 champion is the father of three sons
Mark Winterbottom’s run to the Albert Park podium was a special occasion for the Team 18 driver’s family — but there was one member missing.
Winterbottom scored his first podium of the 2024 season, and just his second for Team 18, in a spirited drive to second on Friday.
The DEWALT Camaro driver pounced on a late error by Broc Feeney to seal second, with winner Will Brown and Matt Payne completing the podium.
The result was extra special for Melbourne-based Winterbottom, who was joined by wife Renee and youngest son Elliot after the race to celebrate the result.
However, the proud father of three joked that eldest son Oliver — who went to school on Friday — should have followed through with his initial plan.
"Ollie was going to wag school to come out, so you should have wagged, mate,” joked Winterbottom, who is one of six dads on the 2024 Supercars grid.
"Don't do that as a parent, but you should have wagged it."
Winterbottom's Darwin breakthrough victory last June was the first with three-year-old Elliot, with 11-year-old Oliver and nine-year-old Austin seeing their dad’s previous win in 2016.
The 2015 champion has emerged a renewed force in races this season, gaining a whopping 25 positions across the first four races of the season.
Winterbottom, a veteran of over 600 races, is so far enjoying the sprint race challenge Albert Park is presenting in 2024.
“The racing is ridiculous. The passes, the urgency and the chaos going on, it's actually really good fun,” said the 42-year-old, who has moved from 16th to ninth in the points across the course of the weekend.
“We're all pushing as hard as we can. There's not really anyone taking each other out. It's to the limit.
“It's cars four-wide, bombing down the inside, switchbacks. Like, it's just so much going on. I think that's the best racing we've seen in this category for a long time.
“To be at the pointy end and not get hit in the rear at the start or in that concertina thing was nice. If you're at the front it makes a big difference.”
Supercars will return to the track for two qualifying sessions and Race 5 on Saturday, before the action concludes with Race 6 on Sunday.
