V8 Supercars Abu Dhabi: Jamie Whincup completes triple victory
Jamie Whincup completed his domination of V8 Supercars' Abu Dhabi Grand Prix support triple-header by winning race three on Sunday morning
The reigning champion's path towards a fourth series title looks even more secure after the Yas Marina weekend, where Whincup's three wins in as many races took his victory tally for the season to 11.
The Triple 8 Holden driver had a minor brush with Ford Performance Racing's Will Davison at the start, but held the lead as Tim Slade swept through from fourth on the grid to take second.
The action was then paused after a big midfield crash left Karl Reindler's Kelly Racing Holden on fire. Jonathon Webb had tipped Jason Bright into a spin, with Bright then collected by Reindler and Dean Fiore. All escaped unhurt.
The blaze was extinguished and the wreckage cleared during three laps behind the safety car.
Whincup stormed away after the restart, with Davison not able to pass Slade for second until just two of the 12 laps remained.
Slade held on ahead of fellow Stone Brothers Ford man Shane van Gisbergen to complete the podium.
James Moffat spent most of the race defending fifth from a train of pursuers.
Only Mark Winterbottom was able to get past the Dick Johnson Ford, leaving Moffat to fend off most of the rest of the field to complete the top six.
Mired in this train was Whincup's team-mate Craig Lowndes, who never recovered from his poor qualifying result and had to settle for 11th.
Results - 12 laps:
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Jamie Whincup Triple 8 Holden 30m36.6840s
2. Will Davison FPR Ford + 1.132s
3. Tim Slade Rosenberg/SBR Ford + 2.906s
4. Shane van Gisbergen Stone Brothers Ford + 3.581s
5. Mark Winterbottom FPR Ford + 6.902s
6. James Moffat Dick Johnson Ford + 11.151s
7. Garth Tander HRT Holden + 11.589s
8. Lee Holdsworth Stone Brothers Ford + 12.622s
9. Rick Kelly Kelly Holden + 13.559s
10. Fabian Coulthard Kelly Holden + 14.326s
11. Craig Lowndes Triple 8 Holden + 14.706s
12. David Reynolds Rod Nash/FPR Ford + 15.058s
13. James Courtney HRT Holden + 15.779s
14. Alexandre Premat Garry Rogers Holden + 16.436s
15. Michael Caruso Garry Rogers Holden + 16.704s
16. Russell Ingall Walkinshaw/HRT Holden + 18.110s
17. Tony D'Alberto D'Alberto Ford + 18.464s
18. Steven Johnson Dick Johnson Ford + 20.806s
19. Michael Patrizi Tekno Holden + 20.999s
20. Steve Owen Paul Morris/DJR Ford + 21.892s
21. Jonathon Webb Tekno Holden + 25.020s
22. Tim Blanchard Kelly Holden + 25.212s
23. Taz Douglas Dumbrell Holden + 26.547s
24. David Wall Britek/BJR Holden + 27.553s
Retirements:
Greg Murphy Kelly Holden 6 laps
Dean Fiore Triple F/DJR Ford 2 laps
Jason Bright Brad Jones Holden 1 lap
Karl Reindler Kelly Holden 1 lap
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