Jamie Whincup aims to steer clear of a potentially explosive situation akin to the Lewis Hamilton-Fernando Alonso rivalry between Red Bull Ampol Racing’s drivers, Broc Feeney and Will Brown, in 2024.
With the arrival of 25-year-old Brown to replace the seasoned Shane van Gisbergen, the team now comprises two young talents in the garage, both with aspirations beyond their already impressive track records, including multiple race wins in 2023, such as Feeney’s victory at the Sandown 500.
In contrast, van Gisbergen was already a Bathurst 1000 winner and a two-time champion by the time Feeney, who is just 21 years old now, began his rookie season. Whincup himself entered Triple Eight Racing Engineering in 2006, early in his career, as Craig Lowndes’ teammate.
As the current Team Principal, Whincup seeks to foster a “healthy rivalry” between Triple Eight’s 2024 drivers, while being mindful of potential conflicts. He emphasizes the importance of managing the dynamics between Feeney and Brown, who are similar in age, skill level, and career stage, to avoid a scenario reminiscent of the Hamilton-Alonso clash at McLaren in 2007, which led to missed opportunities and allowed Ferrari to dominate.
With van Gisbergen’s departure to pursue a NASCAR career in the United States, Triple Eight faces an unfamiliar situation after nearly a decade of having a championship-winning driver. However, Whincup sees this as an opportunity, highlighting the team’s youthful and promising driver lineup as they head into the Thrifty Bathurst 500, expressing confidence in both Feeney and Brown’s capabilities and commitment.