Whincup pockets Darwin's Triple Crown

The last two races of the Darwin SuperSprint (Northern Territory) in supercars saw the victories this Sunday from Scott McLaughlin (DJR Team Penske – Ford) and Jamie Whincup (Red Bull Holden Racing – Holden), the latter pocketing the Triple Crown of the event.

During the second confrontation, the reigning champion won the internal duel at the team of Dick Johnson and Roger Penske, defeating his teammate Fabian Coulthard. Better off than McLaughlin, Coulthard dominated the first stint before seeing his teammate take the lead during the first pit stop.

Having entered the pitlane before McLaughlin, Coulthard made a small mistake at the first corner as his rival exited the pit lane and thus saw McLaughlin and Jamie Whincup take the first two positions.

A hierarchy which will no longer be modified until the finish for the podium, Shane van Gisbergen (Red Bull Holden Racing) and David Reynolds (Erebus Motorsport – Holden) completing the top 5.

The second Sunday race saw the victory of Jamie Whincup, who held off Scott McLaughlin until the end. It was once again during the passage into the pitlane that the outcome of the race was greatly decided, since if McLaughlin dominated the first stint, Whincup and Red Bull Holden Racing managed to take the best thanks to the stops .

The seven-time champion stopped a lap before the Penske driver, not without hindering Fabian Coulthard in the pitlane, before passing the defending champion at the end of the main straight.

Close call between Coulthard and Whincup! #VASC pic.twitter.com/B0bR7hyZUM

— Supercars (@supercars) August 16

Whincup gets by McLaughlin and into the effective race lead! #VASC pic.twitter.com/bRLKt7PZhQ

— Supercars (@supercars) August 16

Whincup then controls the No. 17 Ford Mustang and finally pockets the Triple Crown of the event, finishing tied on points with Fabian Coulthard, 5th in this third race behind Shane van Gisbergen and Chaz Mostert (Tickford Racing – Ford), but benefiting from his best position in the final race.

Coulthard may regret Whincup's maneuver in the pits, causing him to lose the short time necessary to get the better of Mostert at the end of the race. 101 points now separate McLaughlin from Whincup in the 2020 Supercars overall standings.

Race 2 ranking

Race 3 ranking

Discover the full report of the Darwin Supercars event, in issue 2274 of AUTOhebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands.