We have made it to just over the halfway mark of the 2019 season!
Right around now we are still looking to venture into the much-needed sunshine and warmth and a closer to home, Round 8 in Townsville.
We were all a little stunned to see Jamie “J-Dub” Whincup end up in the back of the pack in Darwin – and so was he by the sounds of it (it’s good thing there were no crocodiles out there).
“I couldn’t believe it! I was just too nice trying to have a good race and got absolutely pollacked,” said J-Dub.
“I forgot what mid-pack warrior racing was all about as I was trying to race fair and give people room but instead got absolutely belted.
“I haven’t been back there for a bit, so I got a very quick reminder,” he said.
😯
It was a nudge or two that escorted Whincup wide and caused him to drop back to the rear of the field on the opening lap.#VASC pic.twitter.com/bRTMTssSOI
— Supercars (@supercars) June 16, 2019
Despite making progress through the pack, racing from P24 to P5, J-Dub is a tough critic when it comes to driving styles.
“I was actually disappointed to be honest with how it turned out and the poorness of the racing quality in the mid-pack,” he said.
“It’s dog eat dog back there and smashing each other out of the way, where at the front of the pack it’s different, it’s good, hard and fair racing which I think is desired.”
Although the title ‘King of Townsville’ has been doing the rounds, it’s not really something J-Dub is claiming for keeps.
“We had a solid run in Darwin, but it would be fantastic to get back on the podium.”
GALLERY: Behind the Scenes Darwin 2019
Having just returned from his debut at the Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia in Suzuka, Japan Shane ‘SVG’ van Gisbergen isn’t looking for his brief GT stint to help in Townsville.
“The GT racing in Suzuka was heaps of fun and I had a good time racing with Prince Jefri Ibrahim but unfortunately we crashed on the last lap so it wouldn’t be of much help in Townsville,” he said.
Let’s just call it more experience under the belt for SVG and then add team effort as he jumps back into Supercars.
“We always do well in Townsville, but we need to be close as a team and try to move forward as for the last couple of rounds we have tried a lot of things and haven’t gotten the results that we were after,” he said.
“It all becomes part of the continuous learning process to make the cars better and faster so Townsville will be more about taking it all back to the basics and putting it together so that Jamie and I will both be fast, which I think we will be.”
Only time will tell if SVG is right but as we head to Far North Queensland it seems Townsville is highly rated for J-Dub.
“It’s one of the best on the calendar; a fantastic event, great people and it’s a street track but it’s a purpose-built track as well; they had the parkland to start with so it’s the best of both worlds.”
Stay up to date on our Twitter page with live updates from Friday July 5 and don’t forget to pack your sunscreen.
Jamie’s Predictions for Townsville:
Fastest lap time on the track – 01:13.88
Who’s the one to watch in Townsville – The bloke who has won every other race this year.
Biggest Challenge in Townsville – Pulling up for Turn 2.
Three words to describe Townsville – Best of both worlds (we know it’s four).
Favourite moment in Townville – Representing the Army and changing our car liveries to camouflage in 2011.
Shane’s Predictions for Townsville:
Fastest lap time on the track – 01:13.09
Who’s the one to watch in Townsville – The heat.
Biggest Challenge in Townsville – The heat.
Three words to describe Townsville – It’s very hot.
Favourite moment in Townville – Last year when Red Bull Holden Racing Team took out 1-2 in the race on both days.
READ MORE: J-Dub and SVG go two for two in Townsville.
