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Red-hot Holden driver Jamie Whincup completed a weekend of dominance at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit with victory in Saturday’s final 200km race of the season-opening event.
The two-time V8 Supercars champion made it two wins from as many races to send a clear message to his rivals that he remains the man to stop despite his team’s off-season switch from Ford.
Saturday’s win was set-up by pole-sitter Mark Winterbottom’s failure to get off to a clean start in his Ford Performance Racing Falcon, handing Whincup the early lead.
He kept that until a slow pit stop mid-race gave Holden Racing Team rival Garth Tander the No.1 position.
But the unlucky Tander, who was harshly penalised in Friday’s race and limped home 26th, had to retire when a wheel nut came loose.
Winterbottom recovered from his sluggish start to claim second place while the youngest driver in the field, Shane Van Gisbergen, completed a great weekend by coming in third in his Stone Brothers Falcon.
Tander’s retirement capped a horror weekend for HRT, with last year’s championship runner-up Will Davison having to settle for 14th place after only qualifying in 22nd spot.
Davison failed to finish Friday’s opening 200km race after his engine gave out.
A total of 12,340 fans attended the inaugural Yas 400, a relatively low crowd by Australian standards, but well above the initial expectations of local organisers.
Whincup leads the championship after his two wins from Winterbottom and teammate Craig Lowndes, who backed-up his second place finish on Friday by finishing fifth on Saturday.
Whincup said he was “shocked” by his almost perfect weekend, which also included a pole for Friday’s race.
But he delivered a warning for his rivals by saying his car could still improve going into next week’s second round in Bahrain.
“The car was bulletproof, we were sort of in control from the start,” he said.
“We’ve got five or six little issues that you can’t see from the outside which we’re going to have to improve before too long but it’s all pretty good.
“I can’t believe I’ve won two from two.”
While Winterbottom promised to give it a “harder go” in Bahrain, it was all about now for New Zealander Van Gisbergen, who was delighted with the first podium finish of his V8 Supercars career.
“First podium, I couldn’t be happier,” he said.
“It’s a great way to start the season and I think we have a lap record too which is pretty cool.”
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