TeamVodafone Triple Eight Race Engineering boasts the V8 Supercar Champion once again, with Jamie Whincup claiming his third series crown following a turbulent final race at Sydney’s Homebush Street Circuit Olympic precinct.
Whincup went into the twenty-eighth and final event of the season in the knowledge that if title rival and team-mate Craig Lowndes were to win the race, Whincup himself would have to finish 14th at worst.
As it usually proves to be the case when it comes to V8 Supercars, Formula One, or any motorsport for that matter, it is easier said than done. The 2008 and 2009 Champion was no certainty to claim his first crown in a Holden until the chequered flag was waved.
The 28 year old spoke of his frustration at surrendering the prized number one sticker on his car at the end of 2010, with that privilege going to Jim Beam Racing’s James Courtney, who took the number with him to the factory Holden Racing Team at the start of the season.
The race began confusingly, with half the field lining up on the grid and the other half taking the pit lane, gambling on a switch to dry tyres in spite of the heavens threatening to open. Naturally, there was opening lap chaos, with James Moffat and Fabian Coulthard coming together, ending their seasons.
Despite this, the safety car didn’t make its first appearance until lap 25 due to a displaced tyre bundle, and it was from this point that things started to get interesting.
The notorious turn seven claimed Tony D’Alberto, triggering another safety car, which played havoc on the established order, placing Whincup and Lowndes back in the centre of the field.
Garth Tander’s exhaust didn’t agree with the chassis after a coming together with Todd Kelly, scattering itself across the track, and surprise surprise, the safety car made its third appearance.
The ensuing rush to capitalise and make the final round of pit-stops threatened to derail Whincup’s charge, as he had to queue behind Lowndes, dropping ten positions in the process. He came out in 18th with it all to do.
Lowndes, a three-time Champion himself, but who hasn’t won since 1999, went on a charge, making light work of Murphy, Webb, van Gisbergen and others to get to fourth with twelve laps remaining, only seconds behind race leader, Mark Winterbottom.
Whincup duly made up ground himself, running in eleventh, more than enough to claim the title, but there was one more moment of madness in the dying laps to keep things interesting until the very end.
Ford Performance Bottle-O-Racing’s Paul Dumbrell was marking his swansong as a full-time driver this weekend, aiming to go out on a high.
He was on track to do that, in second with five laps remaining, when he dropped his car at turn eleven, and in the process of recovering in the right direction, Lee Holdsworth unwittingly rounded the corner, right into the path of Dumbrell…
Lowndes miraculously avoided the carnage, finding himself in second place as a result, but this further elevated Whincup.
Will Davison put an exclamation mark on the evening’s proceedings, making heavy contact with the wall at turn eight one lap later, and with the safety car making its final appearance, only something dramatic could deny Whincup.
As the safety car peeled off, two laps separated Whincup from glory, and he backed off the frontrunners, content with eighth place.
Winterbottom prevailed, Lowndes was consoled with second and Shane van Gisbergen was third.
Despite the best efforts of Lowndes and others throughout the season, whin the cup Jamie did, just like in 2008 and 2009. It was his first title in red, and in winning it, Whincup joins greats Peter Brock and Mark Skaife as three-time series winners.
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