Triple Eight Race Engineering Managing Director and driver Jamie Whincup is excited for the future of GT Racing in Australia as the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS experiences a field growth for Bathurst’s opening round this weekend.
Whincup will drive the second Triple Eight Race Engineering/JOHOR Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 alongside Prince Abu Bakar at the Mountain this weekend, continuing a partnership started at The Bend Motorsport Park last year.
The team is also the Mercedes-AMG agent for Australasia and Whincup has witnessed first hand the growth of customers during the past 12 months as he promises of more to come in the future.
“It's growing, which is a great thing as GT is forever growing,” explained Whincup.
“There are 20-plus cars this weekend, there’s going to be more cars again for Round 2 in Perth, so the series is getting stronger and stronger as the years go on.
“It’s exciting for GT racing in this country in the next 12 months.”
Detailing the team’s lead-in for the opening event supporting the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour, Whincup revealed its Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS program is a replica of that in Supercars.
“We’re certainly here to win, we wouldn’t rock up if we didn’t think we were a chance, so of course we prepare the cars exactly the same as we do our Supercars, so it’s a full blown set-up,” Whincup explained.
“The cars are prepared and ready to go. If the drivers do a good job, I’m sure the cars will be quick enough, if we get the strategy right on the day, the tyres on at the right time and pit at the right time, we should be there or thereabouts.”
Although retired from full-time driving, the lure of Mount Panorama remains strong for Whincup.
“I’d drive anything around here, any day. Any time you get to do laps around Bathurst, you take it,” he expressed.
Whincup and Bakar form one of a two-pronged attack by Triple Eight Race Engineering on the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS title as frontrunner Prince Jefri Ibrahim is partnered by Broc Feeney for this weekend.