Motorsport: Warburton's criticism stung Whincup

Jamie Whincup prepares for the warm up session for the Bathurst 1000. Photo / Getty Images

Criticism of a controversial Bathurst 1000 appeal did not affect Jamie Whincup - until he received the "ultimate sledge" from Supercars boss James Warburton.

His Red Bull Racing team raised eyebrows when they appealed a time penalty that denied Whincup a fifth Great Race triumph on October 9.

Whincup crossed the line first at Mount Panorama but was relegated to 11th due to a 15 second penalty for his role in a spectacular late crash.

RBR's protest earned the ire of plenty with their appeal but it was water off a duck's back for Whincup - until Warburton sensationally described it as "un- Australian".

"For someone as patriotic as me it is probably the ultimate sledge," six-time series champion Whincup said ahead of this weekend's Gold Coast 600.

"It was up there.

"We had some pretty bad criticism from all over the place.

"We didn't think we did anything wrong but that's for everyone to make up their own opinion."

Asked if he would take the matter further with Warburton, Whincup said: "There is no way I am going to insult any of my colleagues or anyone in the sport.

"Anything I do is for the interest of the sport and trying to make it better."

However, Whincup did manage to vent his frustration over the Bathurst "debacle" in a no holds barred blog on his personal website.

The four-time Bathurst winner claimed Warburton was "playing dirty" with his un- Australian sledge.

Whincup also sensationally accused TV networks of doctoring race audio to suggest he defied team orders and caused the infamous lap 150 incident.

But he also felt for Holden's Will Davison and co-driver Jonathon Webb who could not officially celebrate their Bathurst 1000 win until RBR's appeal was dismissed on Tuesday night.

"Tekno (Davison, Webb) not being able to celebrate properly like they should," Whincup wrote.

"Supercars Australia branding us un-Australian and playing dirty by slamming us in the media.

"The TV crews cutting radio audio and pasting in over the top of footage laps later in an attempt to further fuel the 'I don't listen to my team' criticism - it is a debacle."

Whincup was defiant when later asked about his blog.

"I just want to throw the facts out there and let people make up their own mind," he said.

"That's the truth, that's what went on."

Whincup will now set his sights on this weekend's Gold Coast street races - and a possible seventh Supercars series title.

He is second in the standings just 139 points behind Holden teammate Shane van Gisbergen with three rounds - and 900 potential points - left.

Practice for this weekend's two 300km races starts on Friday.