Jamie Whincup has admonished the concept of the Pirtek Enduro Cup by proclaiming it as insignificant within the context of the overall V8 Supercars Championship.
Whincup and his-co-driver Paul Dumbrell dominated the quartet of practice runs ahead of qualifying for the Armor All Gold Coast 600, which acts as the third and final leg of the Enduro Cup that opened with Sandown and Bathurst.
V8 Supercars this year commissioned celebrated artist James Corbett to fashion a unique trophy that symbolises the newly created enduro triple crown to add another dimension to the shared driver races.
“To be honest I don’t rate it at all,” Whincup responded when questioned about the Enduro Cup.
“Obviously each round is crazy important for us. Winning on home turf is huge. Bathurst is the biggest event of the year. But the Enduro Cup, it means nothing.
“I just don’t see the value in it.
“Winning Bathurst is massive. Winning Sandown is huge and for me personally winning here on home turf is huge as well.
“But having this in the middle of the championship… it’s more of a team thing than for the drivers.”
Whincup and Dumbrell hold the lead in Enduro Cup standings on 576 points, 42 ahead of the second Red Bull Commodore of Craig Lowndes and Warren Luff.
Bathurst 1000 winners Mark Winterbottom and Steven Richards, who endured a mixed start to their Gold Coast weekend on Friday, are currently third.
