Jamie Whincup to take part in qualifying after practice smash

The Triple Eight Race Engineering factory Holden Racing Team will be taking part in the Supercars Championship qualifying at full strength despite a crash late in Friday’s last Bathurst practice session for Jamie Whincup.

As the four-time Bathurst 1000 winner crested the hill at Skyline, the Garry Rogers Motorsport entry of Richie Stanaway was having his own accident in front of him at The Esses, bouncing back towards the track and forcing Whincup to go to the outside line.

Being caught on the marbles and with a diminishing gap, Whincup slid wide and into the wall before The Dipper, wiping out the left hand side of the Holden Commodore.

Though he sustained enough damage in the crash to take no further part in practice, Triple Eight was able to repair the Whincup and Craig Lowndes entry to get back on the track in time for qualifying.

Speaking after the incident, Whincup explained what had happened and the implications of the damage.

“I saw Richie go in as I came over Skyline,” Whincup said.

“If you look at it on TV it all looks pretty flat there, but it’s massively downhill.

“I just tried to scrub off as much speed as I possibly could while going around him. Going around means you’re in the marbles as well.

“It hit the wall – not massive, I’ve had a lot worse – smashed the front-left corner.

“Rear has got the camber knocked off it, but hopefully it’s not transaxle or anything like that.

“I’m pretty confident we’ll be out for qualifying.”

Running back to the pits after the crash, Whincup wanted to inform the team of the damage before the car got back so they could prepare for a quick turnaround.

“I tried to give the boys as much info as I could so we can start preparing,” he said.

“It’s broken a front-upright, front wishbones, trailing arm. There’s no fluid anywhere so radiator looks intact. The front splitter is smashed across and it just looks like a rear trailing arm at the back as well.”

Qualifying begins at 16:00 local time.