Asian Motor Sports

V8 Supercar championship leader Jamie Whincup has promised to go as hard as possible in Saturday’s opening two races on the Gold Coast.

The Ford star had a major scare during Friday’s second practice session when he hit a tyre wall, but recovered to finish second fastest in the day’s qualifying sessions.

Not only is the Triple Eight driver defending his Gold Coast crown at Surfers Paradise, but he is in a desperate battle with Holden pilot Will Davison for this year’s championship, with the gap just 93 points going into the weekend.

But Whincup said he won’t be holding back despite his fright during Saturday’s top 10 shootout and two 150km races.

“My strategy this weekend is just to go hard and try to win,” Whincup said.

“We’re not worrying about the championship, just battling flat out.

“If we crash, so be it, I’d rather do that then just be cruising around, being a passenger.”

The V8 Supercars will enter uncharted territory at Surfers, with two races on both days meaning a total of 600km of racing action to make up for the withdrawal of the A1 GP series.

“Really what we’re trying to do is say it’s one race with a break in between,” Whincup said.

“You stop and then you start again. That’s what we’re trying to achieve.

“It’s going to be tough, you’ve just got to be on the ball. Who’s concentrating the most, who wants it the most, is probably going to end up front.”

Saturday’s action begins with the top 10 shootout from 9am AEST, which will determine the first 10 places on the grid for the first 150km race from 11.25am AEST.

The second 150km race begins at 3.15pm AEST.

V8 Supercar Standings