One Of These Five Guys Will Be Crowned Supercars Champion This Weekend

Who You Got?


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Mathematically, five blokes have their eyes on the prize.

Realistically, only two men are in with a better than even chance of being crowned the Virgin Australia Supercars Champion on Sunday afternoon.

So on the eve of racing at the title-deciding Coates Hire Newcastle 500, let's run you through the contenders.


#88 JAMIE WHINCUP

The six-time champion's done many times before and brings a 30 point lead into the weekend's proceedings.

The Red Bull Holden Racing team veteran's only won three races this year, but consistency has been the name of the game.

He hasn't always had the fastest car this season, but Whincup's big result in New Zealand got him here.

If Whincup secures title number seven, he really won it back at Bathurst when the team fixed an engine problem to help him secure 90 vital point despite finishing 37 laps down.

McLaughlin didn't finish at all that weekend.

 


#17 SCOTT McLAUGHLIN

The fastest man out there for much of the season hasn't translated to domination on the points sheet.

Points went begging due to a pitlane infringement in Adelaide, a strategy mishap at Philip Island and mechanical issues at Bathurst.

Having gone into the Great Race as the overwhelming title favourite, the DNF really hurt but McLaughlin's strength around street circuits means he can never be counted out in this dogfight.

 


#12 FABIAN COULTHARD

Consistency has the man in the other Shell V-Power Racing Ford in contention right to the end of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.

But the 2017 campaign hasn't been without drama which included a collision with Nick Percat at Surfers and another tangle at Pukekohe.

Coulthard's an outsider but will be looking to pounce should anything happen to McLaughlin or Whincup.

 


#55 CHAZ MOSTERT

He's been the only driver to take wins off the Shell and Red Bull squads collecting maximum points at Phillip Island and Gold Coast and sharpened his credentials with some strong qualifying performances all year.

But an incident in New Zealand has slimmed his hopes of championship glory - this year, at least.

 


#97 SHANE VAN GISBERGEN

The reigning champion's chances of back-to-back titles look remote, albeit mathematically possible if misfortune strikes the other four contenders.

But the 276 point gap to team-mate and series leader Jamie Whincup look all but impossible to bridge.

'The Giz' looked like doing it all over again after two poles and two wins at the season opener in Adelaide.

But the rest of the 2017 campaign has been marked by tyre dramas, biffs and rule breaches.

It hasn't all been bad though, his blistering qualifying performances and solid points hauls have kept him in this fight proving it's never over until the fat lady sings.


Race 1 of the Coates Hire Newcastle 500 begins at 3.45pm on Saturday.

Race 2 is at 3.40pm on Sunday.

 

Sean Maynard

23 November 2017

Article by:

Sean Maynard




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