22 Nov 2018

Team mate will do whatever it takes to help van Gisbergen win

5:52 am on 22 November 2018

Jamie Whincup says he will do whatever he can to help New Zealand driver and teammate Shane van Gisbergen win the Supercars championship this weekend.

And he has not ruled out using controversial team orders.

Ford fans were livid when Whincup, who is out of title contention, appeared to dramatically slow down at the last round at Auckland, allowing van Gisbergen to pass and finish second.

The result reduced the series lead of another New Zealander and Ford driver Scott McLaughlin, putting him just 14 points ahead of van Gisbergen into this weekend's final round in Newcastle, ensuring the closest title race in a decade.

Red Bull Racing team claimed their driver Whincup was simply running out of fuel in Auckland but social media went into meltdown over what they thought were blatant team orders, sparking an official investigation.

Shane van Gisbergen celebrates winning race one of the 2018 Supercars round at Pukekohe ahead of fellow Kiwi driver Scott McLaughlin.

Shane van Gisbergen celebrates winning race one of the 2018 Supercars round at Pukekohe ahead of fellow Kiwi driver Scott McLaughlin. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

RBR were later cleared with officials claiming team orders were legal.

While Whincup denied he was following team orders, he vowed to do what he could to help RBR teammate van Gisbergen claim a second Supercars title.

"What happened in New Zealand, I was pushing hard to race and we didn't win, unfortunately car 17 (McLaughlin) did us in strategy," he said.

"The only thing I can do this weekend is get out with the leaders and try and win a race.

"At the same time we do what we can to help car 97 (van Gisbergen) score as many points as they can.

"I certainly won't be doing anything untoward to any other team or driver.

"That's not the way we play. We go out and race hard and fair and do what we can to get maximum points."

Seven-time series champion Whincup finds himself in the rare situation of not being in title contention ahead of the final round.

It is a far cry from 12 months ago when Whincup claimed a record seventh Supercars title when he pipped McLaughlin at Newcastle.

Whincup is third in the 2018 championship, just 58 points ahead of Supercars great Craig Lowndes who will contest his final round as a full-time driver.

Practice starts on Friday with 95 lap races on Saturday and Sunday.

-AAP