Jamie Whincup’s influence on Supercars continued to grow in 2023 as he successfully balanced his dual roles as Triple Eight Race Engineering CEO and endurance co-driver. While no longer competing full-time, he remained a vital part of the team’s success, guiding both Shane van Gisbergen’s championship campaign and Broc Feeney’s emergence as a genuine title contender. His leadership behind the scenes was matched by another impressive performance behind the wheel.
Whincup returned to partner Feeney in the #88 Chevrolet Camaro for the endurance season, with the pair immediately establishing themselves as one of the favourites. The revived Sandown 500 proved to be the perfect start, as they led 122 of the 158 completed laps on their way to victory. The triumph delivered Triple Eight Race Engineering’s milestone 250th championship race win, while also giving Whincup his sixth Sandown 500 victory, placing him equal second on the event’s all-time winners list alongside Allan Moffat and Craig Lowndes, behind Peter Brock’s record of nine.
Momentum carried into the Bathurst 1000, where Whincup and Feeney were firmly in contention throughout the race and running comfortably in second during the closing stages. Heartbreak struck when a gearbox actuator failure forced the #88 Camaro into the pits for lengthy repairs. Although the team returned to the race and was classified 23rd, any hopes of victory disappeared in one of the cruellest moments of the season for the pair.
Although his competitive appearances were limited to the endurance races, Whincup once again demonstrated why he remained one of the category’s most influential figures. His contribution to Triple Eight’s 250th championship race win at Sandown, combined with his pace at Bathurst and continued leadership of the team, highlighted that even after retiring from full-time competition, his impact on Supercars remained as significant as ever.
