Seven-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup has won the final race of the season from pole position after clinching the Newcastle 500.
It was the 118th win of Whincup’s illustrious career and fifth of the season, but he missed out on the teams’ championship on Sunday after Triple Eight teammate Shane van Gisbergen finished seventh.
Scott McLaughlin, who had already clinched the drivers’ championship, finished fourth on the Newcastle street circuit, while teammate Fabian Coulthard was second and Tim Slade third.
McLaughlin and Coulthard’s DJR Team Penske held on to claim the 2019 teams’ title.
It marks back-to-back drivers’ championships for McLaughlin who has dominated 2019 with 18 wins from 32 races, including his maiden Bathurst 1000 crown, to take the crown by 562 points.
“I’m so glad to finally be able to celebrate. We won the teams’ championship, too – that’s bloody awesome,” McLaughlin said.
“I’m just glad it’s all done and we can party now. I can’t wait to have a few beers tonight.
“Any time an organisation can win 18 wins in a single car (is great) but then 20 wins as an organisation is pretty impressive.
“Those results come from all the people who put the work in behind the scenes. When the chips are down, we come back. We don’t care what’s been said – we just get on with it.”
Van Gisbergen and Whincup won the two races in Newcastle over the weekend and finished second and third in the drivers’ standings.
Whincup backed Triple Eight to return stronger in 2020 and stop McLaughlin securing a Supercars ‘threepeat’.
“We fought hard right to the end,” Whincup said.
“We didn’t have that much performance at the start of the year but we chipped away and two wins this weekend for the team gives us confidence going into next year that we can certainly be contenders.
“This year, it wasn’t much of a battle. Unfortunately, car 17 (McLaughlin) disappeared up the road a bit but, hopefully, we can take it to them next year.
“Congratulations to Scotty – he did a great job.”