Red Bull Holden Racing Team drivers, Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen, challenged a number of local fans to a virtual race-off ahead of this weekend’s Gold Coast 600.

The Triple Eight Race Engineering stablemates traded Supercars for race simulators in pursuit of the fastest virtual lap, leading in to the final round of the Pirtek Enduro Cup.

Red Bull Holden Racing Team drivers, Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen, challenged a number of local fans to a virtual race-off ahead of this weekend’s Gold Coast 600.

The Triple Eight Race Engineering stablemates traded Supercars for race simulators in pursuit of the fastest virtual lap, leading in to the final round of the Pirtek Enduro Cup.

“Getting a few laps in on the simulator ahead of the Gold Coast 600 can only help and there were some fans who gave us a run for our seat,” Whincup said.

“The Motum simulator felt incredibly realistic, with good feedback through the steering wheel and pedals. The biggest difference to the real race track is it’s not as expensive when you make mistakes on this thing.”

Off the back of a challenging Bathurst 1000, Shane van Gisbergen and the team behind Car #97 jumped head-first in to preparations for the next race round.

“My co-driver, Matt Campbell, has been quick at this track previously in both  the Porsche and the Supercar so we’ll be focusing on starting up front and keeping out of trouble,” van Gisbergen said.

With an uncharacteristically wet start to the Supercars endurance season, Car #88 driver Jamie Whincup, knows the field has a number of challenges ahead if the weather trend continues.

“It’s already a concrete canyon of a circuit, then throwing in wet weather conditions means whoever is standing on the podium is going to have worked hard for it,” said Whincup.

The Vodafone Gold Coast 600 kicks off on the streets of Surfers Paradise from the 20 – 22nd October.

Fast Facts

• Jamie Whincup has more championship race wins on Gold Coast than any other driver – eight – and six poles, also a record.
• Shane van Gisbergen has finished on the podium in four of the last six Gold Coast 600 races.
• In a championship race that has never had 100% finishing rate, Shane van Gisbergen has a 95% finishing rate and Jamie Whincup has a 90% finishing rate.
• Triple Eight has had at least one car finish on the podium in 12 of the last 14 races on the Gold Coast.