As the Car of the Future era looms, Jamie Whincup is happy to have sealed his fourth V8 Supercars championship in the best car of the past.
Whincup’s Holden has won more V8 races than any other in the modern era, chalking up 30 race wins in its service with Team Vodafone.
Up there with any of those race wins was the car’s performance at Winton on Sunday, as Whincup drove the wheels off it to come from 22nd to third and secure enough points to ensure this year’s title.
Sydney will be the Commodore’s final outing in the main game before new regulations bring in different cars and new manufacturers.
“This is a special one because it’s at the end of an era. We’re going to start fresh next year with Car of the Future,” Whincup said.
“To win the championship in the car that’s won more races than any other car, it’s going to be extremely special for sure.”
Only the highly unlikely scenario of a points penalty during the Sydney races for Whincup could in any way re-open the championship, and even then it would be unlikely to be enough to stop him.
“We did it the hard way today,” Whincup said of his spirited drive from back to front after his pit lane penalty for spinning his wheels while the car was up on jacks in pit lane.
“It’s a bit of a wanker rule really (the wheel spin rule) but at the end of the day I broke the rules and have to do the penalty.”