Whincup is 2008 V8 Champion

 TeamVodafone wrote themselves into the V8 Supercar history books at Oran Park today, winning the 2008 V8 Supercar drivers and teams championships after dominating the opening 46 lap V8 Supercar race.

After an incredible year, TeamVodafone marked the end of their inaugural Championship winning season with a second placing to Craig Lowndes at the final round of the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series at Oran Park Raceway today.

Despite wrapping up the title yesterday, teammate Jamie Whincup recorded his worst overall result since the fateful Hamilton round.

The newly crowned Champion broke a differential while leading Race 2, started from the rear of the grid in Race 3 then finished the race 23rd after a couple of on track skirmishes with retirees Paul Morris and Mark Skaife. 

After recording the 61st podium of his career, Lowndes finished the year fourth in the championship standings and acknowledged his team was going from strength-to-strength.

“He (Jamie) is the best out there,” Lowndes said.

“When Jamie came into the team (three years ago) he was able to push us along. His maturity this year has been amazing, he learns from everything and it has been great to have him as a teammate, each lap he pushes at 110%.

“For us looking to the future, we are in better shape than ever before,” he added.

Reflecting on the most successful year of his career Whincup said he was relieved his bad luck came today instead of yesterday.

“You want your bad luck to happen at the right time so that was perfect,” Whincup said referring to his broken differential.

“Race three was fun, it was great to rub panels with the two guys who are retiring.

“It has been an absolutely amazing year for the whole team and we have come a long way. We learnt how to fight for a championship but now we are going to have to learn how to retain it,” Whincup explained. 

Top Ten Oran Park Round Results

1 Garth Tander, 260pts 

2 Craig Lowndes, 252pts 

3 Rick Kelly, 236pts 

4 Russell Ingall, 226pts 

5 James Courtney, 222pts 

6 Steven Richards, 202pts 

7 Jason Bright, 172pts 

8 Michael Caruso, 160pts 

9 Fabian Coulthard, 146pts 

10 Paul Morris, 140pts

Top Ten V8 Supercar Championship Series Points

1 Jamie Whincup, 3332pts 

2 Mark Winterbottom, 3079pts 

3 Garth Tander, 3048pts 

4 Craig Lowndes, 2871pts 

5 Will Davison, 2495pts 

6 James Courtney, 2446pts 

7 Rick Kelly, 2430pts 

8 Steven Richards, 2416pts 

9 Russell Ingall, 2236pts 

10 Steven Johnson, 2163pts

Top Ten V8 Supercar Teams Championship Points

1 Team Vodafone, 5867pts 

2 Ford Performance Racing, 5308pts 

3 Jim Beam Racing, 4478pts 

4 Toll Holden Racing Team, 4432pts 

5 Stone Brothers Racing, 4060pts 

6 HSV Dealer Team, 3738pts 

7 Garry Rogers Motorsport, 3550pts 

8 Supercheap Auto Racing, 3491pts 

9 Jack Daniels Racing, 3285pts 

10 Tasman Motorsport, 3018pts 

Posted in: Championship