WAU's untimely misfortune not lost on Whincup

Supercars

31 Oct

Up until 20 laps to go in the Gold Coast finale, Triple Eight was bracing to take on Chaz Mostert for the title in Adelaide

2 mins by James Pavey

Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500

Gold Coast

WAU

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WAU's Gold Coast misfortune not lost on Jamie Whincup
Chaz Mostert dropped out of title contention on Gold Coast
Mostert 309 points behind, having been 63 down in Tasmania

Up until 20 laps to go in the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 finale, Triple Eight was bracing to take on Chaz Mostert and Walkinshaw Andretti United for the title in Adelaide.

Then, Mostert was forced into pit lane for an unscheduled third stop, triggered by a fuel rig error, that ultimately ruled the two-time Bathurst winner out of mathematical title contention.

The mistake by WAU came after a trouble Saturday, with a gear position sensor issue dropping Mostert from a likely podium position to 10th by race's end.

Where Mostert would have been within 200 points of leader Will Brown heading to the VAILO Adelaide 500, the title is instead locked in to be an intra-Triple Eight battle.

It was a cruel end to Mostert's hopes, given he drew to 63 points of Brown, having been nearly 300 points adrift after Round 5 in Darwin.

While proud of his team's efforts, Triple Eight boss Whincup admitted WAU's misfortune helped "gather a heap of points and set up our year."

“It is a great feeling and we will celebrate that on Sunday in Adelaide,” Whincup said after Sunday's race.

"Both drivers did an incredible job. It's highly publicised how hard it is out there and the great job the guys in the arena are doing, giving blood week in, week out, battling it out.

"But there's a lot going on in team land as well, so we had a big scrap with WAU this weekend.

"The engine thing was very unfortunate for them yesterday and then thankfully [for us], unfortunately for them, they made an error today which allowed us to gather a heap of points and set up our year.

“So a big thanks to our drivers, they drove hard and professionally the whole time, and now we go into the last round in a very fortunate position where it's going to be one of our guys.”

Triple Eight will claim a record 11th Supercars drivers' championship, breaking a tie with Dick Johnson Racing, which also has 10 titles.

Brown is in the box set to win Triple Eight's 11th title, holding an 180-point advantage over Broc Feeney. Whincup won a record seven titles (2008-09, 2011-14, 2017), and Shane van Gisbergen three (2016, 2021-22).

The Triple Eight teammates will fight for the title at the VAILO Adelaide 500 on November 14-17.