In the final stages of today’s race, an atmosphere of stress permeated the Triple Eight (T8) garage, when van Gisbergen, due to a late race manoeuvre, caught up to his teammate Feeney with only a few laps left.
Van Gisbergen, the New Zealand racer, pushed past his teammate to secure the fourth position, believing it was well-deserved due to his tire management skills. However, the engineering team directed him to surrender the fourth place back to Feeney if he was unable to overtake third-placed Andre Heimgartner.
This sparked a hot-tempered conversation over the radio as van Gisbergen tried to find a way to retain his position. Eventually, he conceded and allowed Feeney to pass him on the final straight before the checkered flag.
Jamie Whincup, the managing director of T8, attributed the situation to a communication breakdown from van Gisbergen’s side. According to Whincup, the team manager, Mark Dutton, clearly defined the drivers’ expectations for the final stint.
Whincup praised Dutton’s communication during the last stint and clarified that the instruction was to maintain their current positions for maximum team points. He explained that the communication was misinterpreted by Shane, which caused the conflict.
While acknowledging that van Gisbergen was dissatisfied with the race’s outcome, Whincup encouraged his team to concentrate on the day’s positive aspects. Notwithstanding the tension, both Feeney and van Gisbergen executed a commendable performance, improving from their initial positions of 13th and 25th respectively.
Whincup stressed the importance of celebrating the team’s successful outcome, while also addressing the internal issues when they return to their base. He empathised with van Gisbergen, accepting that the situation could have been a genuine miscommunication.
Meanwhile, Feeney was not fully aware of the situation as it was unfolding. He revealed that he trusted the team’s decisions and was focused on driving his car. Feeney assured that any issues would be discussed and resolved during the team’s debriefing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Triple Eight Garage Tension
What caused the tension in the Triple Eight garage during the race?
The tension was caused by a misunderstanding between van Gisbergen and the engineering team about race strategy, particularly the decision to let his teammate, Feeney, pass to secure the fourth spot.
Who is the managing director of Triple Eight?
The managing director of Triple Eight is Jamie Whincup.
What was the final result of Feeney and van Gisbergen?
Despite starting the race in 13th and 25th positions, they made a remarkable turnaround to finish in fourth and fifth positions respectively.
Was Feeney aware of the disagreement between van Gisbergen and the engineering team during the race?
Feeney said he was unaware of the dispute as it unfolded. He was focused on driving his car and left the strategic decisions to the team.
How did Whincup react to the dispute?
Jamie Whincup, the managing director, called for tranquility following the dispute. He emphasized the need to celebrate the team’s overall performance and suggested dealing with any internal issues once back at their base.
5 comments
van Gisbergen was clearly frustrated. Cant blame him though, the adrenaline in that situation must be unreal!
its not easy managing all these tempers in a race team. but then, what’s racing without a little drama, eh?
Huh, Shane may have had a misunderstanding but he pulled off a stunning race. From 25th to 4th, that’s some serious driving skills! Proud of him.
I love how Whincup is handling this. Instead of fanning the flames, he’s calling for calm and emphasizing team performance. true leadership right there!
Wow, I never thought I’d see the day – a misunderstanding causing such a mess in the T8 garage. but hey, it’s part of the sport, right?