Why 2016 controversy still rankles with Triple Eight boss and Jamie Whincup

As the retiring Whincup aims to go out on a high by adding to his four Bathurst 1000 titles in his final race as a full-time driver at Mount Panorama this week, Dane remained adamant his long-time star had been robbed five years ago.

In a dramatic edition of the 2016 race, Whincup took the chequered flag but he had been handed a 15-second time penalty which relegated him to 11th place with Tekno Autosport pair Will Davison and Jonathon Webb crowned the winners.

Whincup had been penalised for an incident with Scott McLaughlin which became a three-way tangle with Garth Tander late in the race.

Triple Eight’s appeal against the time penalty was dismissed by the Supercars National Court of Appeal nine days later.

Reflecting on Whincup’s hits and misses at the Bathurst 1000 ahead of his final race, Dane said the win had been taken away from the team due to “somebody’s personal opinion”.

“Over the years Jamie has lost one, the team have lost a couple for him where he definitely should have won and he had one stolen off him in 2016, which he won,” Dane said.

“The powers that be took that win away from him, but he won the race.

“It’s not a question of feeling hard done by, the reality is we have moved on from it a long time ago, but Jamie won the race.

“Unfortunately, the inconsistency of application of the rules meant that somebody’s personal opinion took it away from us.

“But it is what it is and we have moved on a long time ago but it’s one of the moments when the sport didn’t cover itself in glory.

“He knows that he won it … he has put it behind him and it’s a shame to really undermine the performance of Will Davison and Jono Webb that day, who got the trophy, but the reality is that Jamie won it.”

The controversy unfolded when Whincup attempted a pass on the inside of the effective race leader McLaughlin at The Chase on lap 150 but made contact which forced the Garry Rogers Motorsport Volvo wide.

Whincup slowed on the exit in a bid to redress the clash but Tander was caught behind him and as the then Holden Racing Team driver moved right in a bid to move past, he collided with McLaughlin as he rejoined.

Whincup’s penalty was for “careless driving” in the initial incident with McLaughlin.

Supercars’ greatest championship driver said the result still left a bitter taste.

“I don’t want to disrespect the eventual winners of that race but, for sure, we thought we were harshly punished,” Whincup said.

“I’ve had a lot go my way and a lot not go my way at Bathurst, it’s the nature of the event.

“But not many people have crossed the line first at Bathurst and not won the race.

“That was and it is still hard to accept that one.

“Of course I was disappointed to not get the (win), I couldn’t stand on the top step of the podium after I crossed the line first but that’s Bathurst and that’s the nature of the Great Race.”

While he is a four-time winner of the Great Race (2006-2008 with Craig Lowndes and 2012 with Paul Dumbrell), the 2016 race is one in a series of heartbreaking results for Whincup at the famous circuit.

In 2014, he ran out of fuel on the last lap, allowing Chaz Mostert to steal a dramatic win, copped a penalty for passing a safety car in 2015 and had his race hopes dashed after losing a wheel in 2018 with co-driver Paul Dumbrell in the cockpit.

He crashed out of last year’s race after slamming into the wall attempting to make a pass at turn three just 33 laps into the race.