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Holden star Jamie Whincup is feeling the weight of responsibility to keep up his challenge to Ford's Scott McLaughlin in this year's Supercars championship.

Supercars great Jamie Whincup believes he has a responsibility to do all he can to continue challenging Ford's Scott McLaughlin in 2020.

The margin between McLaughlin and Whincup has been reduced from 177 points to 123 after the Red Bull Holden Racing Team star dominated last weekend's event in Townsville, with two wins and a third from the three races.

The championship is back at the Reid Park street circuit this weekend for another three races and Whincup says the aim is to build more pressure on his DJR Team Penske rival.

"The points between Scotty and I lowered last week which was great," Whincup said.

"We feel it's our responsibility as a team to make sure the championship goes right down to the wire at the last event.

"We're trying to do the best we can to hang in there. To take away points from the team that has been the best performed in the last couple of years.

"It's about making the car fast and it's about me not making a mistake.

"We were able to do it last week but it's important that we're able to keep our focus and have another good weekend this weekend."

Whincup's latest successes extend a fantastic record in Townsville for the seven-time Supercars champion.

He now has 12 wins from 26 starts in north Queensland but says there'll be no resting on his laurels at this weekend's event.

"If you sit on your hands and don't move forward, you generally get gobbled up by the rest of the field," he said.

"If we don't make a gain this week we'll certainly fall back into the pack.

"We've had a good run but history doesn't guarantee you anything heading into another massive weekend."

The second Townsville SuperSprint event begins on Saturday with a 39-lap race before two more 39-lap races on Sunday.