Photo:

Whincup extends his lead further

By

After a shaky start in the damp first race at the Falken Tasmania Challenge, Jamie Whincup emerged on top at the close of play by dominating the last two races.
Brilliant sunshine greeted the competitors for race two and three of the penultimate round of the 2008 V8 Supercar Series in Tasmania where Ford showed their dominance of this closely fought championship.

Championship leader Jamie Whincup won both races at the super fast track to take yet another round win to stay in front of the drivers championship.

Surprise second place went to the Jack Daniels Racing Holden of Todd Kelly, the best of the Commodores with a win in race one and two third places to finish off the weekend.

Craig Lowndes tried his hardest to stay with his teammate, only to finish third overall. Craig’s results were a sixth in the damp conditions in race one and he shadowed his teammate home into second for race two and three.

The Ford Performance driver Mark Winterbottom would have admitted he dropped points at Symmons Plains in his quest for the drivers title as he could only manage fourth overall with a third and two fourth places.

The Jim Beam Racing duo of Will Davidson and Steven Johnson were fifth and sixth with strong reliable races. Lee Holdsworth also impressed with seventh place in his Gary Rodgers Motorsport Commodore.

After putting in the fastest time in qualifying, eighth place went to the Toll Holden Racing Team Commodore of Garth Tander. With this disappointing result it is not now mathematically possible for Tander to retain his championship with just one round to go.

Fabian Coulthard in his Glenfords Racing Falcon and the HSV Dealer Team Commodore of Rick Kelly rounded out the top ten.

The disappointing results of the round must go to Jason Bright in his Fujitsu Racing Falcon who was so impressive in the first race, running as high as fourth dropped to 13th.

Wonder boy James Courtney struggled into 20th place in his Jeld-Wen Motorsport Falcon.

And in his last visit to Symmons Plains, retiring ex-multiple champion Mark Skaife really suffered and finished a lowly 22nd.