The two-time driver's champion claimed both races at the spectacular Yas Marina Circuit and is hopeful of doing so again this weekend in Bahrain.

But he believes there's no point revelling in his success if he's unable to back it up the following weekend.

"We're well and truly over Abu Dhabi now and are thinking of Bahrain," the TeamVodafone linchpin said.

"You have to do that throughout a year. You've got to put all your focus into an event, do the event, move on.

"That's exactly what we're doing."

Although recent history might not be large in Whincup's mind, the last time V8 Supercars held an event in the gulf island kingdom of Bahrain, in 2008, he won all three races on the way to his maiden championship.

And while that success is a happy memory for the 27-year-old, he said there have been just as many bad times in the Middle East as good.

"I've had mixed results and mixed emotions here," he said.

"I was quick here in '06 but blew up. In ' 07 I couldn't score a point. I came here leading the championship and went out second.

"And then last Desert (400) meet here we won three races and had a great result."

Whincup's doubts centre on nearly two kilometres of additional track added to the event, with the V8 Supercars getting to race the full formula one layout in Bahrain for the first time.