Jamie Whincup doubles up
In clinching the title in Sydney, Jamie Whincup became the first driver since Marcos Ambrose in 2004 to win back-to-back titles in the V8 Supercar Championship.
The 26-year old from Melbourne displayed a great level of maturity and consistency throughout the season to fend off challenges from the Toll Holden Racing duo Garth Tander and, ultimately, Will Davison.
Known as “J-Dub” or “Whinners” to friends, colleagues and fans, Whincup began his racing life in karting, and ever since he has been battling on-track with Will Davison.
After showing great pace in karting, Whincup moved up the ladder into the Australian Formula Ford Championship in 2000. During his time in Formula Ford he again showed much promise, and in 2002 he was crowned champion. As he worked his way to the title, he was watched closely by a certain Garry Rogers.
He made his V8 Supercar debut in the 2002 endurance round at Queensland Raceway, driving for the Garry Rogers Motorsport team, and partnering Max Dumesny in a Holden VX Commodore. The pair finished the 500km race in 20th place.
Whincup also participated in the Bathurst 1000km race for the same team, this time partnering Mark Noske, but the pair retired after 72 laps.
The performances during the two outings earned Whincup a full time drive with GRM during the 2003 season. Unfortunately the season proved to be a difficult one for Jamie, as he finished 27th overall.
As a result he found himself out in the cold for 2004 when GRM dropped him from the team in favour of Cameron McConville.
Two drives for Castrol Perkins Racing in the endurance races in 2004 kept Whincup in the minds of the team bosses, and Tasman Motorsport snapped him up to contest a full programme in the 2005 season, still in a Holden.
A fantastic run at the fly-away race in Shanghai was followed up by stellar performances again in the endurance rounds, where he twice stood on the podium with co-driver Jason Richards. Third place at the Sandown 500 was duly followed up with a fine second at the Bathurst 1000. He finished the season 16th in the standings, and pushed himself under the spotlight of the front running teams.
The 2006 season saw Whincup cross the Red-Blue divide and team up with Craig Lowndes at Triple Eight Race Engineering driving a Ford. The season began in the perfect way, as he claimed his first every V8 Supercar race victory at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.
The same season saw the pairing of Whincup and Lowndes take victory in the Bathurst 1000 race, but overall the season was one of mixed fortune. Whincup eventually finished the season 10th overall.
An intense, down-to-the-wire, battle with Garth Tander kept fans on edge throughout 2007. Both drivers showed great pace throughout the season, and it came down to a decider in the final round at Philip Island. Whincup finished second in the final race, but Tander managed to take fourth spot handing him the championship title by a mere 2-points. Whincup and Lowndes took victory in the Bathurst 1000km race again, to claim back-to-back victories in the event.
Whincup’s first time to lift the championship trophy came in 2008. An almost perfect season propelled Whincup to victory, and was blighted by only one none points scoring round at the inaugural Hamilton 400 event.
That aside, Whincup’s smooth and consistent driving style throughout saw him emerge from a season long battle with Mark Winterbottom and Garth Tander. To add to his championship title, Whincup again won at Mount Panorama. Again being partnered by Craig Lowndes, meaning a run of three consecutive victories at Bathurst.
The 2009 season began in much the same style as the previous, with Whincup taking wins in both races in the season opening Clipsal 500. This time it was the turn of Will Davison, who had moved from Jim Beam Racing to the Toll Holden Racing Team, to lay down a consistent challenge to Whincup through the season.
It appeared as though Tander would feature in the battle throughout, but his challenge tailed off as the season progressed, leaving old sparring partners Whincup and Davison to fight over the crown.
The Davison/Tander pairing ended the Whincup/Lowndes domination at Bathurst, but neither could prevent Whincup defending his championship title.
After a disappointing weekend on the Gold Coast, which saw Whincup’s challenge stutter, he elected to withdraw from the Race of Champions to focus on preparations for the final rounds of the season, further showcasing his levels of dedication and professionalism.
He clinched the title after fifth place in the first race at the Grand Final. Will Davison could inly manage 15th in the race.
After the celebrations, focus will turn to the 2010 season, where despite remaining with the same team, same sponsors and same team mate, he will find himself changing to drive a Holden for the first time since 2005.
In July, Triple Eight announced that they would switch from Ford to Holden at the end of the 2009 season, and should Whincup clinch the title in 2010 he would be the first driver in the V8 Supercar era to win titles for both Ford and Holden, as well as equaling Mark Skaife’s three titles in a row.
Jamie Whincup, 2009 V8 Supercar Champion:
