Whincup trades up to MAN TGX

V8 Supercar gun Jamie Whincup recently enjoyed a change of pace, driving the Red Bull Racing Australia MAN TGX race transporter to Melbourne's Sandown 500

Jamie Whincup clearly isn't afraid of getting to grips with all aspects of a V8 Supercars race team's operations – he recently obtained his multi-combination truck driving licence and took to the wheel of the Red Bull Racing Australia MAN TGX race transporter.

The 31-year-old said driving the 62-tonne B-double to Melbourne ahead of last weekend's Wilson Security Sandown 500 was the perfect way to get his eye in for the start of the V8 Supercars PIRTEK Enduro Cup.

It seems he was right: Whincup and Paul Dumbrell went on to dominate the first endurance event, guiding the #1 Red Bull Racing Australia Commodore to first place by a winning margin of over two-and-a-half minutes.

"I absolutely love driving the truck and with the endurance season starting this weekend, there's no better preparation for me than to do the long haul out on the open road," Whincup said late last week.

"Our transport driver Warick 'Wazza' Beames was a bit white-knuckled at the start because he doesn't usually hand the keys over to his pride and joy so I was very grateful to get the opportunity."

Wazza (pictured with Whincup) stopped short of allowing Whincup to push on into the Melbourne suburbs, however, instead grabbing back the keys at a Caltex service centre in Tullamarine, in the city's northern suburbs.

A YouTube clip of the V8 Supercar driver's stint behind the wheel of the MAN TGX shows he clearly enjoyed himself, although Wazza, sitting in the passenger's seat, appeared a little 'on edge'. In any case, the transporter made it safely to its destination and the rest, as they say, is history…

Whincup is leading the V8 Supercars Championship on 2325 points, 273 points ahead of Red Bull Racing teammate, Craig Lowndes. Ford Pepsi Max Crew driver Mark Winterbottom is nipping at Lowndsey's heels, however, just three points adrift.

Next up on the V8 Supercars calendar is the big one: the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, to be held over October 9 to 12. If you spot a Red Bull Racing Australia race transporter barrelling down the highway towards The Mountain, make sure you check out who's behind the wheel – you might just be overtaking the fastest V8 Supercars racer in the country!

Check out the clip below to see more of Whincup's stint in the MAN TGX…

Whincup trades up to MAN TGX

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