Sunday 26th March
RACE WRAP:
Jamie Whincup – Car #88
Race 4 – 19th
Overall – FourthShane van Gisbergen – Car #97
Race 4 – Second
Overall – 19th | | |
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Jamie Whincup – Car #88“Really disappointed. We had a broken spring just before the race started, which meant the bias didn’t work, so we disconnected it. So, due to that, I over-cooked the rear tyre due to using the rear brakes the whole race. It is a really disappointing end, it was all self-inflicted, we should have done a better job dealing with the issue in the first place. We cost ourselves the win this weekend.”
Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97“I think we learnt a lot in the last couple of days. Starting back up the front again allowed us to action a few things and I got a great start. We probably took it a little too far with a change in suspension and it took me until lap six to come on. Finishing the race was really good, the car felt strong. We need to improve, but we learnt a heap this weekend and I feel a lot better about the tyres, even though the results don’t show that.” | | |
8:00am – The final race of the weekend is upon us with JDub starting in P1!
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Saturday 25th March
6:45pm – SVG has been hit with a double penalty after today’s race. This places SVG in P21 after a time penalty of 50 seconds.
4:50pm – Another four-seasons-in-one-day moment in Melbourne.
RACE WRAP –
Jamie Whincup – Car #88
Race 3 – SecondShane van Gisbergen – Car #97
Race 3 – 10th | | |
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Jamie Whincup – Car #88“We put in a solid performance here today, the last two races weren’t positive. I felt like today we were competitive. It was good racing today, the car felt great and I think we’ve found some pace overnight. It was a great battle with DJR Team Penske. I am looking forward to starting in P1 up the front tomorrow.”
Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97“I learned a lot about the car. We started a long way back, we had to pass people. It was a pretty crazy first lap, but we managed to pick off a few spots. The car was improved, and as a team I feel like we improved, so that is promising. We worked on a few setup things, just to make sure the tyres work a bit better and understand what they are all about.” | | |
9:45am – Squad goals.
8:30am – Who has sweet kit? We have sweet kit! Shop online here.
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Friday 24th March
RACE WRAP:
| Jamie Whincup – Car #88 Race 1 – Fourth
Race 2 – Seventh Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97 Race 1 – Sixth
Race 2 – DNF | | |
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| Jamie Whincup – Car #88 “Disappointing day. We didn’t have any pace, even though I gained a lead in race one, we just couldn’t keep it. You’ve got to have pace to win races, so we didn’t deserve to win. Race two wasn’t any better, I had a terrible start and (Michael) Caruso did me down the inside and I just got out of it in order to save any unnecessary carnage. But we didn’t have a quick car to get through the field. Tomorrow’s key is to get a quick car since we are starting on the front row.” Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97 “First race was ok, I got an average start but then I managed to push through. The car was pretty reasonable. We had a good base to work from coming into the second race. We made some improvement in the second race start, we got up to fourth, and I feel like we were getting better and better. Chaz (Mostert) made a big move, and didn’t commit enough, so I turned in thinking he was far back, but he was just there. It is a shame, then we got hit head-on unfortunately. It’s a lot of work for the team to do due to somebody else’s mistake.” | | |
1:35pm – A massive 13 laps with plenty of drama saw the race finish under saftey considtions. JW in P4, SVG P6.
10:34am – We had Red Bull Teammate Max Verstappen pop in for a quick “hello” yesterday afternoon. We think he was very eager to take car #97 for a spin!
9:00am – We aren’t used to waking up so late – what is this feeling!?
8:02am – Happy Birthday to car #97’s number one mechanic Shady! Hopefully we can get you some silverware for you birthday mate!
Thursday 23rd March
RACE WRAP:
| Jamie Whincup – Car #88 Practice: – 23rd (Fastest Lap: 1:58.8572)
Qualifying 1: – Fourth (Fastest Lap: 1:55:0958)
Qualifying 2: – Third (Fastest Lap: 1:55.0863)
Qualifying 3 – Second (Fastest Lap: 1:55.0178)
Qualifying 4 – FIRST (Fastest Lap: 1:54.6607) Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97 Practice: – Third (Fastest Lap: 1:56.4158)
Qualifying 1: – Seventh (Fastest Lap: 1:55.1934)
Qualifying 2: – Seventh (Fastest Lap: 1:55.4558)
Qualifying 3 – 25th (Fastest Lap: 2:08.6243)
Qualifying 4 – Sixth (Fastest Lap: 1:55.2314) | | |
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| Jamie Whincup – Car #88 “I felt really happy with today’s results, I think we improved. We weren’t the quickest at the start of qualifying, but happy with P4 in the first session. Cauchi (David Cauchi, Race Engineer) slowly improved the car over the sessions and it’s great to finish up with the fastest time. It’s a positive start to the weekend, but still, nothing is guaranteed. Let’s just keep our head down and see if we can score some success out of it. The car is already much better than it was at Clipsal, so it’s good to start the weekend on a high.” Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97 “The car felt alright. Practice is tyre-limited, so we focused on qualifying, but we really struggled on the car’s performance. We had a great Clipsal with the soft tyre, and now with the supersoft tyre we just couldn’t get it to work out. We have a lot of work to do to turn the tyre on. The third qualifying session we started to figure out a solution, but I went off the track. We learned a lot, but we need a big step forward into the weekend.” | | |
1:25pm – Read what JDub has to say about the AGP (and much more) before the weekend kicks off HERE.
12:45pm – Practice session done, SVG in P4, JW in P23. We head into some quick fire qual sessions later today.
11:23am – Great have the legend Derek Warick in the garage this morning for a hot lap with SVG!
9:12am – Garage styling. Ain’t no mistaking who goes where around here.
8:00am – Big day on track today!
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Wednesday 22nd March
12:00pm – With a slight delay, we are here! (and damn it feels good!)
5:00am – It’s travel day! Look out AGP, we are Melbourne bound.
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Tuesday 21st March
1:21pm – Nothin’ better than a hot deal to get you through a Tuesday, SHOP NOW.
11:56am – FAST FACT – Triple Eight has won at the Albert Park event overall two times since a weekend point score was introduced in 2008 for it.
9:02am – Don’t miss your chance to catch the drivers over the AGP weekend –
Wednesday 22 March 12:00 – 1.00pm Total Tools, 187 Normanby Rd, Southbank |
Friday 24 March 11:45 – 12:10pm RBHRT merchandise shop, on track Note: Signing card required |
Saturday 25 March 12:30 – 12.55pm RBHRT merchandise shop, on track Note: Signing card required |
Saturday 25 March 1:30 – 1.55pm F1 Fan Activation Zone Stage |
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Monday 20th March
3:01pm – SHIPPY ON AGP – “Clipsal was such a great weekend, but that is ancient history now – we’ve been hard at work preparing as best we can for Albert Park. We had an enjoyable weekend at the Formula One last year, so we’re aiming to do everything we can to emulate last year’s top step of the podium.”
1:23pm – How do you spend your rainy days? There’s always time for pit stop practice here at the workshop.
10:12am – FAST FACT – Triple Eight has eight Albert Park Supercars race wins.
Lowndes – 2009 x 2 (The “F” word)
Whincup – 2011 x 2 (Commodore VE II)
van Gisbergen – 2016 x 3 (Commodore VF)
Whincup – 2016 x 1 (Commodore VF)
8:20am – Trucks departed on the weekend, now is the perfect chance to clean up the workshop and make it shine before we head off to the AGP on Wednesday morning.
THE STATS:
Australian Grand Prix – Albert Park Circuit
Circuit length: 5.303km
Circuit direction: clockwise
Average speed: 164km/h
Maximum speed: 265km/h
Fastest point: Front Straight
Slowest point: Turn 15
