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Champions need perfect timing, and new V8 Supercar champ Jamie Whincup even managed to find the right moment for his Ford to self-destruct.
Whincup wrapped up a deserved V8 Supercar title on Saturday with an emphatic race one victory at Oran Park – his 10th win in 11 races.
A few laps into race two on Sunday, and Whincup’s differential was in pieces and his car was parked by the roadside – a scenario which if it had happened 24 hours earlier could have spelled catastrophe for his title hopes.
“You want your bad luck to happen at the right times and that was perfect,” Whincup said of his mechanical mishap.
His first official day as champion didn’t get any better in race three, as he was t-boned by Holden driver Paul Morris, and lost control in a separate incident before trailing the field home 23rd.
But it won’t stop the 25-year-old Queensland-based Team Vodafone driver celebrating a popular victory, saying his team had put their celebrations on hold until the season was finished.
“We’ve got some celebrating to do. I had a couple of lemon squashes after Bathurst, a couple more after the Gold Coast, and we haven’t done any celebrating for the round wins we’ve had.
“We’re going to celebrate in style.”
Whincup failed by just two points to win last year’s title, and showed great dignity in accepting his fate and paying tribute to Holden’s Garth Tander for his win.
But after a season in which he has bounced back from a number of setbacks, including missing an entire round because of an early season crash in New Zealand, Whincup believed his 2008 success was a deserved one.
“Every setback makes you stronger without doubt,” he said.
“Last year we weren’t the best team. We didn’t deserve the win. Garth was clearly the best performer over the year.
“Without being arrogant, I believe we deserve this year. We’ve been the best team and best combination over the year.”
Tander had some consolation for losing his title, sealing the round win at Oran Park with victory in race two before finishing second to fellow Holden driver Rick Kelly in race three.
Meanwhile, Victoria’s Phillip Island will host the lead-in endurance race to the Bathurst 1000 for the next 10 years under a deal signed on Sunday.
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