Whincup a winner in new Supercars role

After claiming a record 124 Supercars race wins as a driver, Jamie Whincup is one-from-one as the team principal of Red Bull Ampol Racing.

The seven-time championship winner has swapped the helmet for a headset after calling time on his stellar driving career at the end of 2021.

And he's enjoyed immediate success in his new role at the season-opening Sydney SuperNight event this weekend.

A bold three-stop strategy by his team secured a winning start to 2022 as defending champion Shane van Gisbergen claimed victory in Saturday's 77-lap race at Sydney Motorsport Park.

"There was certainly some pressure there to make sure we perform this year," Whincup told Fox Sports.

"It's only round one but we got a race win, couldn't be happier."

Having announced his retirement at the start of last year's championship, Whincup has had plenty of time to prepare for life after racing.

He said the reality of his new role and being a part of a race meeting without getting behind the wheel had confirmed to him he'd made the right call.

"Everyone's asking me, 'how you feeling? What's it like when the cars go out?' But I think I've made the right call," the 39-year-old said.

"I'm not sitting here burning and thinking that I've made a disastrous decision. 18 years, loved that chapter, (but) really enjoying the new role and the challenge that it brings."

While glory went to van Gisbergen in Saturday's race, Whincup was also impressed by the effort of his replacement, teenager Broc Feeney, in his debut as a full-time Supercars driver.

The 19-year-old secured a spot in the top 10 shootout for pole position before finishing 10th in the 300km race.

"I think he did a solid job, qualified 10th and ran 10th in the race," Whincup said.

"He was getting