Jamie Whincup says the start to the season has fallen short of expectations but remains confident it will only be matter of time before his ZB Commodore package finds its sweet spot.

The reigning Supercars champion has endured an inconsistent run across the opening six rounds that has featured a streak of six consecutive podiums, including two wins, followed by a run of six races without a top five finish.

The fluctuation in results has seen the seven-time series winner fall 364 points adrift of runaway championship leader Scott McLaughlin, who has come to the fore in the #17 Shell V-Power Racing Falcon.

Whincup showed strong pace at Albert Park and Symmons Plains, which proved to be strong tracks for the new Triple Eight ZB Commodore, but struggled to find an approriate set-up at Phillip Island, Barbgallo Raceway and Winton.

The 35-year-old however believes he has a package to mount a challenge for the title but is yet to strike the perfect balance.

“We have always got big expectations and we probably haven’t quite achieved those expectations, but at the same time, it is what it is,” Whincup told Speedcafe.com.

“We will just get our heads down like we always do and see what the rest of the year brings.

“It has been a little bit up and down for our standards. We can’t win them all but we have been running through our program.

“We have shown some pace, we have been slow at times, we have had good strategies and bad strategies.

“I’ve driven well and I’ve also made a meal of it, so its been very up and down.

“I think we have got more results this year compared to this point last year.

“I’m a big believer that everything is in the toolbox to do the job but we haven’t been able to find the right ingredients yet.

“We have been doing it long enough to know that it is a very long year and we are not even halfway yet. We are all good.

“We would love to be leading but we are not. We can’t lead all the time but we will keep fighting like we always do.”

Whincup will jump back behind the wheel on Monday when Triple Eight heads to Queensland Raceway for a test day.

It is hoped the outing will provide the team with valuable information to improve the balance on the #1 Red Bull Holden Racing Team Commodore.

“The test day is not about finding a silver bullet, it is about finding the right balance,” said Whincup.

“It is more about refinement. Everything is there, we have just got to package it all together.”

Whincup is fifth in the championship standings ahead of the CrownBet Darwin Triple Crown from June 15-17.