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'We should have got the one-two': van Gisbergen

14 Nov 2021
'I hate team orders like anyone else, but I'm gutted that one of us didn't win'
2 mins by James Pavey

Shane van Gisbergen was "gutted" that neither he nor teammate Jamie Whincup couldn't overhaul Will Brown in Race 28.

Red Bull Ampol Racing teammates Whincup and van Gisbergen were locked in combat for the balance of the BP Ultimate Sydney SuperSprint finale.

Erebus Motorsport rookie Brown held them off in the closing laps to record his maiden Supercars victory.

The teammate exchange came after Whincup opted to defy team orders, with Whincup refusing to let van Gisbergen past on lap 25.

Whincup's decision to fight for the win saw the Red Bull Ampol Commodores make contact at Turn 8, with Whincup forced to settle for second.

Series leader van Gisbergen was just 0.24s behind his teammate.

Van Gisbergen, who has a 337-point advantage over Whincup in the points standings, lamented his team's failure to bring home another Sydney victory.

“It's pretty self-explanatory,” van Gisbergen said of the intra-team battle.

“The racing, we did enjoy it, it was a fun battle, and I always love racing Jamie.

“We always know to keep respect and keep room ,but maybe that didn't happen from the other side this time.

“I don't know, you obviously want to race, and I hate team orders like anyone else, but just gutted that one of us didn't win the race.

“It should have been a one-two and that didn't happen."

Whincup led from pole, and kept van Gisbergen at an arm's length.

Brown was fitted with two tyres versus the three bolted onto the respective Whincup and van Gisbergen cars.

The two Red Bull Ampol drivers barged their way to Brown, who became the first rookie in eight years to win a race.

“I was really strong at the end, pitted a bit later and drove up to them," van Gisbergen said.

“I was pretty quick, I had really good car speed and I've had a really good car in the races.

“That's probably the sad part is that we didn't win the race.

“I'm happy for Will of course, they've had a pretty rough round with the pit stops.

“They've been really quick, so I’m happy for them, it’s always cool to get your first win.

“But I’m gutted for our team for one of us not winning.”

The 2021 Repco Supercars Championship will resume this weekend at the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight.

Every session of the event will be broadcast live on Foxtel (Fox Sports 506) and streamed on Kayo.

The Seven Network will provide live free to air coverage of the event.

Tickets for the event are on sale now.

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