Jamie Whincup’s short-term future almost certainly has another V8 Supercar championship in it – perhaps as soon as this weekend.
His long-term future is anyone’s guess, with the Holden driver not ruling out a move away from the sport he has dominated once his contract expires at the end of 2013.
Whincup could wrap up his fourth V8 title by the end of the weekend’s two races at Winton.
With another year remaining on his Team Vodafone deal, Whincup will certainly be part of the series next season.
He admits his outlook has been freshened up by plans to bring in new manufacturers and more cost-effective cars next year, which will certainly shake up the sport.
Beyond that the 29-year-old faces a crossroads with two distinct paths to consider.
Become a career V8 driver, like Peter Brock, Mark Skaife or his Team Vodafone running mate Craig Lowndes and aim to stretch his imposing Bathurst and championship records to unparalleled levels.
Or the Marcos Ambrose way.
Two V8 championships in five years, then a complete shift of gear to NASCAR, where he has fought his way from the ground up to become a serious competitor in the toughest tin-top series in the world.
“I don’t plan more than 12 months ahead, so who knows?” Whincup said when asked how long he would keep driving in the V8 series.
“The Car of the Future thing next year, and (the team) changing major sponsors as well, that’s certainly spicing things up and keeping it fresh for next year.
“One day it will become repetitive, and then I’ll move on.”
Whincup can seal the championship ahead of the final event in Sydney if he extends his lead over his only challenger, Ford’s Mark Winterbottom, beyond 300 points after Sunday’s race two at Winton.
Already he holds a 296-point advantage.
Finishing clear of Winterbottom in both races or avoiding disaster should be enough to add to his 2008, 2009 and 2011 series victories.
A sizzling Friday practice performance, in which he laid down a lap nearly a second faster than anyone else to start the day’s final session, served notice Whincup’s mission is on track.
Winterbottom was 11th and fourth in the two main sessions as Whincup clocked a rocket-like 1min 23.7726sec, with Ford’s Dean Fiore second fastest overall.
Whatever the next few days bring, Whincup is proud of how Team Vodafone has responded to Winterbottom and Ford Performance Racing’s serious challenge throughout 2012.
“A lot of hard work, changing up a lot of one-percenters, and we’ve made our whole operation better,” Whincup said.
“We had to change the tide in the middle of the year … we fixed our weaknesses and definitely improved.”
Races will be held on Saturday and Sunday, with separate qualifying sessions ahead of both.
