THE last thing Jamie Whincup was told by Red Bull Racing on that fateful 150th lap of the Bathurst 1000 was to keep following Scott McLaughlin.

Instead, Whincup tried to pass the Volvo driver as they arrived at The Chase, triggering a chain reaction of controversial events that, for the third straight year, cost he and co-driver Paul Dumbrell the victory, put McLaughlin out of contention, and took Garth Tander out of the race.

Red Bull have since protested the 15 second penalty that stewards awarded to Whincup, with an appeal set to be heard in coming days. A total rescindment of the penalty would hand the pair victory.

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However, listening to Car No. 88’s two-way radio transmissions — as heard live through FOX Sports Supercars Race Centre during the Bathurst 1000 — around the fateful laps shows that Whincup had been told to stay behind the Volvo.

The timing of prior Safety Cars meant that, on Lap 150, all teams were struggling to make it to the chequered flag on the fuel left in their tanks.

DJR Team Penske’s Fabian Coulthard led but fully intended on pitting for more fuel before the end of the race. McLaughlin, in second, was heavily focused on saving fuel as well.

So too was Whincup. He had already been advised to use a little extra to get past Tander for third, but on the laps prior to the collision Whincup was being told to use McLaughlin’s slipstream to save fuel.

“Okay mate, push on and get on the back of McLaughlin, and then we need to conserve fuel,” race engineer David Cauchi told Whincup as he headed up Mountain Straight on Lap 148.

“Get on the back of McLaughlin and then we’ll conserve more fuel.”

The game plan hadn’t changed as he headed up the hill to start Lap 150, as heard during FOX Sports’ TV broadcast of the race.

“Okay mate, the number is minus 22,” Cauchi said.

“We believe McLaughlin is going to stop again unless there’s another Safety Car, and I need your fuel number on the dash because I have no telemetry.”

To that, Whincup replied: “Copy that. Copy, copy, copy.”

As they exited Forrest’s Elbow later that lap, McLaughlin’s Volvo wiggled and allowed Whincup to get a bit of a run on the car ahead.

As Car No. 88 headed down Conrod Straight, Cauchi spoke to his driver for the last time before the race-changing incident.

“Nice work mate, keep using McLaughlin,” he said.

Seconds later, Whincup dived to the inside of the Volvo, locking the rear wheels and bumping McLaughlin off the road.

Almost immediately, Whincup slowed from race-pace to ‘redress’ the contact and allow McLaughlin to regain his position ahead of the No. 88 car, just as Tander came rushing up to the duo looking to pounce.

“Readdress (sic) that, readdress that,” Cauchi said.

Coincidentally, Cauchi keyed the microphone button to talk at the exact moment McLaughlin collided with Tander, careening both cars into the fence and preventing Whincup from redressing the initial contact.

Whincup was soon onto the radio to give Cauchi his version of events.

“Cauchi, I went to the inside, he swerved under brakes. I was fine. And then he just crashed ... (inaudible),” he said.

Cauchi replied: “We saw that. We know that it wasn’t your fault. There’s nothing more you can do.”

Under the subsequent Safety Car period, Whincup further explained his take on the incident.

“He swerved under brakes, pushed me onto the marbles, um, didn’t give me any room at the apex. If I had a carwidth I would’ve been sweet,” he said.

After the race Whincup maintained that the passing move was on.

“I don’t know what to say. I just went out there and raced hard,” he said.

“I feel sorry for the result. Just going up to the Volvo guys and the HRT guys; you don’t want to see any wrecked cars.

“I’ll just go apologise for the result but I feel the move was on: I was in there, he squeezed me narrow, we had contact.

“I was happy to redress, but two cars weren’t there to redress.”

Read below for a full transcript of the radio exchanges between Whincup and Cauchi in the laps around the race-changing incident on Lap 150.

TRANSCRIPT — CAR No. 88 TEAM RADIO

LAP 146

Cauchi: Okay mate. Pass Tander. Use the fuel and pass Tander.

LAP 147

Whincup: Last lap number please?

Whincup: Actually, no no no. Just keep it off the radio.

Whincup passes Tander at Murray’s Corner.

LAP 148

Cauchi: Okay mate, push on and get on the back of McLaughlin, and then we need to conserve fuel. Get on the back of McLaughlin and then we’ll conserve more fuel.

Whincup: Copy.

LAP 149

Cauchi: Excellent driving mate, let’s use McLaughlin for a few laps now please. Save some fuel.

LAP 150

Cauchi: Okay mate, the number is minus 22. We believe McLaughlin is going to stop again unless there’s another Safety Car, and I need your fuel number on the dash because I have no telemetry.

Whincup: Copy that. Copy, copy, copy.

Cauchi: Nice work mate, keep using McLaughlin.

11 seconds later, the contact happens between Whincup and McLaughlin at The Chase.

Cauchi: Readdress that, readdress that.

At the exact moment Cauchi started talking Whincup, Tander and McLaughlin all make contact, with the Volvo and the HRT car spearing into the fence.

LAP 151 — SAFETY CAR IS CALLED

Whincup: Cauchi, I went to the inside, he swerved under brakes. I was fine. And then he just crashed ... (inaudible)

Cauchi: You are staying out, you are staying out. We saw that. We know that it wasn’t your fault. There’s nothing more you can do.