The more things change, the more things stay the same in V8 Supercars.
Or so it seems after Holden’s Jamie Whincup made a perfect start to claiming an unprecedented sixth touring car championship by cruising to victory in the 2014 season opener at Adelaide on Saturday.
Volvo had sounded an ominous warning in their first touring car sighting Down Under in 28 years when Kiwi young gun Scott McLaughlin qualified fifth for the opening 125km event.
Volvo’s arrival brought to five the number of manufacturers on a reduced 25-car grid in 2014 – something not seen since 1992 when Ford, Nissan, BMW, Holden and a Toyota were part of the field.
And the jury was out on what would happen next after Car of the Future regulations introduced last year ensured 17 different race winners and one of the closest title fights in touring car history in 2013.
But just like last year, Whincup again emerged triumphant in Adelaide on Saturday finishing almost three seconds ahead of Red Bull Racing teammate Craig Lowndes with fellow Holden driver Shane van Gisbergen third.
“We saw that qualifying was very close and that it would be dog eat dog today,” Whincup said.
“I enjoyed matching it with them.
“Lowndesy was coming on strong, he was going hard. But a 1-2 finish is awesome.”
The hero of qualifying – McLaughlin – finished seventh while leading Ford threat Mark Winterbottom was fifth.
Mercedes’ prized recruit – former Ford gun Will Davison – finished 13th.
Ford signing Chaz Mostert only completed 21 of the race’s 39 laps after hitting the wall early.
Fellow Ford gun Dave Reynolds failed to finish after also coming off second best with the notorious street circuit.
A podium finish was a welcome relief for van Gisbergen who is again enduring the threat of ongoing legal action.
Twelve months ago, van Gisbergen’s 2013 season looked over before it could begin.
In late 2012 the flying Kiwi sensationally retired at 23 after his former Ford team became Mercedes’ Erebus Motorsport.
Barely a month later van Gisbergen backtracked and signed with Holden’s Tekno Autosports earning the ire of the cashed up Erebus team.
Threatened with legal action that looked set to prevent him from racing, van Gisbergen still carved up the notorious Adelaide street circuit to be the overall winner of the 2013 opening round.
Fast forward a year and van Gisbergen admits nothing has changed off track in what he dubs a game of “legal tennis” between himself and his former Erebus team.
Unconscionable Conduct proceedings were formally instigated in the Federal Court by Erebus in mid-2013.
The court is reportedly continuing to gather evidence from concerned parties.
The second 125km race starts at 1920 AEDT.
