For so long nothing could go wrong for V8 Supercars champion Jamie Whincup.
In 2015 it seems nothing can go right.
Whincup arrived at the Gold Coast 600 hoping to erase memories of a Bathurst nightmare earlier in October.
The Holden star was running second in the 1000km classic when he disobeyed a team order to pit and then copped a penalty for passing the safety car.
He would finish 18th.
With the hopes of defending his title almost certainly gone, salvaging some pride at his hometown event looked to be the only thing left for Whincup in 2015.
Things began well on Saturday with Whincup qualifying second-fastest for the top 10 shootout for pole position at the Gold coast.
He then produced one of the ugliest single laps of his recent V8s career in the shootout to settle for seventh position on the grid.
Handing over to co-driver Paul Dumbrell for the race start, Whincup could only watch from the garage as a collision between his Commodore and Ford driver Dean Canto cruelled their hopes.
Dumbrell limped back to the pits but a lengthy repair left Whincup to circulate several laps behind the rest of the field for the remainder of the 102-lap race.
"Can't get a break, it's just been one of those years unfortunately," Whincup told AAP.
"Today's all over. We'll try to save some tyres, hopefully it helps us tomorrow."
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