Supercars great Jamie Whincup has conceded his championship defence is over after a horror Gold Coast 600 weekend.
The Red Bull Holden Racing Team ace was 433 points behind championship leader Scott McLaughlin after a 14th-place finish in Saturday’s first 300km race on the streets of Surfers Paradise.
On Sunday, Whincup didn’t even get behind the wheel of his Commodore after co-driver Paul Dumbrell’s collision with a wall as a storm hit the circuit ended their day after 31 laps of the 102-lap race.
The seven-time driver’s champion quickly conceded the result meant any slim hope he had of retaining the title was over.
Whincup said his focus would now shift to helping teammate Shane Van Gisbergen in his title battle with McLaughlin.
« It’s all over for us this year, » Whincup told Fox Sports.
« Car 97 (Van Gisbergen) is still well in the charge and we’ll do all we can to help them get it done. »
http://www.espn.com/v8-supercars/story/_/id/25039660/whincup-concedes-supercars-title-gone
