LIVE DIARY: SYDNEY 500

Sunday 4th December

RACE WRAP –

Red Bull Racing Australia Media Release Sunday 4 December, 2016 Sydney 500 – Sunday Qualifying 2, Top Ten Shoot Out, Race 2 Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97  Qualifying 2 – First (Fastest Lap: 1:26.9518) Top Ten Shoot Out – Second (Fastest Lap 1:27.1660) Race 2 – First (Fastest Lap: 1:28.2850) Championship – First (3368 points) Jamie Whincup – Car #88 Qualifying 2 – Third (Fastest Lap: 1:27.0942) Top Ten Shoot Out – 10th (Fastest Lap 1:31.5703) Race 2 – Fourth (Fastest Lap: 1:28.2236 ) Championship – Second (3168 points)

Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97 “It’s a pretty awesome day. After sealing the Championship yesterday, today we just had to have some fun and then we had the added bonus of bringing home the win. We had a really fast car and I’ve really enjoyed working with the whole crew of car 97 throughout the season. Winning the Championship is something I’ve dreamt about for a long time so it’s a pretty special moment. To do the burnout at the end was pretty cool too, I’ve always wanted to do that.” Jamie Whincup – Car #88 “It was a tough race starting from 10th but we had an awesome fight with David Reynolds there at the end. We couldn’t quite get to third for a podium finish but we had great pace and had a few good battles. We’re stoked for Red Bull Racing Australia to get a one-two in the Championship and a big congratulations to Shane and the car 97 crew for bringing home the win. We’ll take a break now and try to come back stronger next year to try and get the number one back on car 88.”

1:30pm – SVG brings home the Amourall Pole Position winner for 2016 and P2 in this afternoons race – kicking goals!

11:20am – Both drivers have secured a place in the Top Ten Shoot Out, bring it on!

9:56am –  We are wrapping our final autograph session of the weekend, thanks Sydney fans for all the fun!

8:12am – Shane van Gisbergen takes his first Supercars title after a dramatic charge on the Homebush streets >> win.gs/2fXC6kD

RACE WRAP –

Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97  Qualifying 1 – First (Fastest Lap: 1:26.6272) Race 1 – Third – 2016 Drivers ChampionJamie Whincup – Car #88 Qualifying 1 – Second (Fastest Lap: 1:26.7306) Race 1 – First

Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97 “We knew we had a job to do today and we started the right way with Pole position in qualifying. I wasn’t as assertive as I should have been at the beginning of the race and after the penalty, we knew we had our work cut out for us. When the safety car came out we were back in the running for a good result and we pushed hard to finish in third. It’s been an awesome few years in the Supercars series and taking the Championship has always been a lifetime goal so I’m stoked. It’s going to take a little time to sink in, I’ll have a quiet dinner with the family tonight and then celebrate with the team tomorrow.” Jamie Whincup – Car #88 “I’m incredibly happy for my teammate Shane van Gisbergen – any Championship win is a huge result, especially your first one. The team that takes out the Championship is the one that has been the most consistent performer over the year and that’s definitely the case for team #97. I knew what was going on behind me the whole race and right in the middle, we were looking okay. I knew we both had quick cars and Shane had green tyres on for the last stint of the race which saw us both finish on the podium. It’s been a good day taking the win at the Sydney 500 but we lost points at critical stages of the Championship which is the story of our year.”

12:40pm – SVG claims Pole with JDub in P2 – it’s hot up the top!

10:50am – Head down to our merch tent – it’s where the cool kids are.

9:10am – There are so many opportunities to get your kit signed today – so if you miss out, you aren’t trying hard enough! Catch us for the True Colour track walk happening NOW!

7:54am – It’s a huge day on track, so don’t miss your chance to get in on the action!

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Friday 2nd December

PRACTICE WRAP

Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97 Practice 1 – Fourth (Fastest Lap: 1:27.9789) Practice 2 – First (Fastest Lap: 1:27.0734)Jamie Whincup – Car #88 Practice 1 – Third (Fastest Lap: 1:27.8919) Practice 2 – Third (Fastest Lap: 1:27.2414)

Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97 “I think we still have a bit to work on. We need to work on our sectors, the first sector we are going really well in, but the second half we need to work on. On the soft tyres we are performing well, but the corners are tough around here. I’ve always had a great run around this track so I will be sad to see it go, it’s been good to me. We have a fast car and a comfortable car, we are in a really good position heading into the weekend. Hopefully, it’s not this hot all weekend.” Jamie Whincup – Car #88 “It’s been a big week. It’s is the hottest day today I think we’ve had in a while around here. Combine that with the soft tyre, it was hard work out there today. The surface of the track isn’t the best I find, personally, it seems pretty worn out, but that could also be the heat. The car was average, so we have a lot to work on. It’s a big weekend ahead, and as I have always said, I’m going to continue to push forward and do all that I can.”

12:34pm – Our Homebush set up. On fleek/point/the money/you name it.

11:40am – Solid practice session around the SOP track, JW coming in P3, SVG P4.

9:32am – Couple of good looking roosters and some silverware.

7:16am – Head down to the track for the final Friday of the season.

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Thursday 1st December

12:54pm – Fulltime driver, part time cricketer?

10:32am – FAST FACT – Red Bull teammates and championship combatants Shane van Gisbergen and Jamie Whincup have dominated the Sydney 500 in recent times, winning the last 8 races there in a row between them.

That accounts for every New Generation car race held at the Sydney 500.

9:45am  -Check out our fresh Homebush wall in the internal garage – it has been one huge year!

5:20am – Urgh, we are up. Second round of crew is Sydney-bound. #passtheredbull

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Wednesday 30th November

11:53pm – But wait, there’s more. Thanks to our mates at Casio you can grab a Christmas bonus! Just spend over $100 on the team shop for your chance to win a 2016 Edifice team watch. T’s & C’s apply >>http://bit.ly/2gChu24

11:34am – Stuck on what to get your mate from Christmas? Look no further with a stack of goodies available through our online store HERE.

9:08am – Our first lot of crew are Homebush bound, as well as the drivers. We are so excited to get the final race of the season underway – and even more excited to party after!

8:13am – FAST FACT – Only three drivers have won multiple races at the Sydney 500 – Jamie Whincup, Craig Lowndes and Shane van Gisbergen. #dreamteam

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Tuesday 29th November 

2:43pm – RD ON HEAD-TO-HEAD – “Success in this sport is always judged in relative terms to your competitors, so for both Shane and Jamie to be together at the top of the ladder ahead of the other 24 competitors means that the year has gone well regardless of the outcome of their individual battle.”

1:58pm – FAST FACT – Every single Sydney 500 race has been decided by less than four seconds. Last year’s Sunday result between van Gisbergen and Whincup was the closest ever seen at the event – 0.4058s.

12:21pm – A creative soul at heart, SVG unleashes on the coloured pencils to give us driver insights on the Homebush track.

7:48am – Don’t miss your chance to meet the drivers at the last round of the season.

 

Date: Wednesday 30^th November

Time: 4:00 – 5:00pm  

Location:  Angus and Coote, Westfield Parramatta

 

Date: Thursday 1^st December

Time: 6:30 – 7:30pm  

Location:  Caltex, Eastern Creek

 

Date: Friday 2^nd December

Time: 9:40 – 10.00am

Location: RBRA merchandise shop, on track

Note: Signing card required*

 

Date: Saturday 3^rd December

Time: 9:30 – 10.15am

Location: True Colour Track Walk, Olympic Boulevard

 

Date: Saturday 3^rd December

Time: 10:50 – 11.10am

Location: RBRA merchandise shop, on track

Note: Signing card required*

 

Date: Sunday 4^th December

Time: 9:30 – 10.00am

Location: Back of team internal garages

 

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Monday 28th November 

3:45pm – Herding the bulls into the transporter to start their journey down to Homebush.

2:12pm – Incase you haven’t already, don’t forget to throw a vote our way for the Supercars awards! Vote for your favourite driver (hint: us) and best-presented team (hint us, again). VOTE HERE!

12:02pm – Engineers at the ready! Nothing like a bit of friendly competition amongst teammates, right?

Championship standings

1^st – Shane van Gisbergen, 3089 points

2^nd – Jamie Whincup, 2898 points

3^rd – Craig Lowndes, 2596 points

4^th – Scott McLaughlin, 2575 points

5^th – Will Davison, 2403 points