A record-breaking six V8 Supercars championships from seven seasons should be enough for Jamie Whincup to be crowned the greatest Australian touring-car driver of all-time.
But there are still those who question whether Whincup deserves the title, despite his domination since the end of 2007 to today.
For some, Whincup’s successes can be directly correlated with the rise of his Triple Eight Race Engineering team, which has emerged as the powerhouse squad in the series after its arrival a decade ago.
But since 2008, Whincup has won titles and Bathurst 1000s in both Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores. If he could have gained a 68-point swing in 2007 and 2010, he would have won eight consecutive V8 Supercars championships. And he has beaten teammate Craig Lowndes – who many contend is the greatest – in each of the last eight seasons.
Whincup has now won more titles than the likes of Mark Skaife, Dick Johnson, Ian Geoghegan, Allan Moffat, Jim Richards, Bob Jane, Peter Brock, Lowndes etc – in what many consider to be the most competitive era of Australian touring cars.
If Whincup’s success can be attributed to Triple Eight, then one cannot ignore the fact he has beaten Lowndes in each of the last eight seasons – with the same equipment.
And let’s not forget Whincup’s pre-Triple Eight career, fighting back from a potentially career-ending sacking following his rookie season at Garry Rogers Motorsport in 2003.
The determination to fight back with a career-saving season at Tasman Motorsport in 2005, where he scored podiums at Sandown and Bathurst, is the quality that has seen Whincup dominate in recent seasons.
Few other V8 Supercar drivers can match his consistency, work ethic and determination, in many ways raising the professionalism bar to a level few others can reach.
Whincup is the best and many are calling for the 31-year-old to test his skills overseas by following the example of Marcos Ambrose’s NASCAR tilt, having won so comprehensively in V8 Supercars.
But now is the time for Whincup to commit to V8 Supercars, be it with Triple Eight or another team.
A new generation of rivals have emerged. On the driver-front, there are youngsters such as Scott McLaughlin, Chaz Mostert and co. ready to step up and challenge the champ. On the manufacturer-front, the likes of Volvo are providing a tough test and will only get stronger.
Then there’s the returning Ambrose with the might of his Team Penske.
We were deprived of the Ambrose-Whincup rivalry when Ambrose left for NASCAR, just as Whincup joined Triple Eight.
Ambrose, a two-time champion, may be seven years’ older than Whincup with a decade out of V8 Supercars, but has nevertheless been racing in one of the most competitive series in the world.
Whincup has the chance to cement his greatest of all-time status and prove the doubters wrong, by sticking around and seeing off these new challengers.
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