Whincup’s planned IMSA debut at Laguna canceled

Jamie Whincup’s IMSA debut has been canceled after an illness has sidelined team owner/co-driver Kenny Habul from taking part in this weekend’s event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Whincup, the most dominant Australian Supercars driver of his generation, was meant to drive with Habul in the SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 in Monterey as part of an all-Aussie line-up, but the seven-time champion will remain at home and prepare to defend his 2017 title with Triple Eight Race Engineering.

“I was looking forward to racing at Laguna Seca, but that’s the way things go,” Whincup told SpeedCafe.com. “You know if Kenny pulls out of a race he must be seriously sick because he just loves being out there. I am sure there will be more opportunities for us to team up together again.”

Habul was competing last weekend at the Hungaroring Blancpain GT event with co-driver Tristan Vautier, and after winning their class on Saturday, the duo withdrew from the event after suffering from bad stomach cramps and fevers.

“It has been a tough call, but I am still in hospital,” Habul said. “I am sorry to have to do this to Jamie, but he has been very understanding and I will make it up to him somewhere down the track.

“We are not sure what caused the illness, but the whole experience has been very ordinary and I am not sure how long it will take to be back to 100 percent. We had to make the call now so not to mess Jamie around too much because he is heading into a pretty important part of the season in Australia.”