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Jamie Whincup Takes Consolation for V8 Supercar Championship Series Disappointment

Staff, Tuesday December 4, 2007.

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TeamVodafone’s Jamie Whincup took some consolation for his gallant second place in the V8 Supercar Championship Series to Toll HSV Dealer team’s Garth Tander by winning one of the sport’s most coveted awards at the end of season Gala dinner in Melbourne.

The rising star of V8 Supercars was awarded the Barry Sheene Medal, an award that honours the driver that best represents the Series in their on-track and off-track efforts across the season. The award is voted for by the major media that cover the sport across the season.

Jamie Whincup

Jamie Whincup – 2007 runner-up and winner of the coveted Barry Sheene Medal

Whincup’s seemingly meteoric rise to fame has been built over several years in the sport, culminating in his huge challenge to Tander at the Dunlop Grand Finale at Phillip Island yesterday that ended with him just two points short of a maiden Championship victory.

Across the season Whincup was pitted against not only Tander but his much higher profile team-mate Craig Lowndes. He acquitted and held himself through mini disasters at the Desert 400 in Bahrain and then at the V8 Supercar Challenge on the Gold Coast to take the award.

With Lowndes he won the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and the Sandown 500, coming within just three points of becoming only the third driver to win the endurance races and a Championship in the same year. Only Lowndes and the great Peter Brock have achieved that feat.

V8 Supercars Australia Chairman Tony Cochrane said that Whincup was a thoroughly deserved winner of the Barry Sheene Medal in honour of the former motorcycle world Champion that personified what motorsport should be about.

”. . he has handled himself like a consummate professional . .”

“Jamie has shown real character this year in bouncing back from situations with real guts and determination,” Mr Cochrane said. “But just as importantly he has handled himself like a consummate professional through those highs and lows.”

Veteran commentator Barry Oliver was recognised for his dedicated and professional service to the sport in a decade of calling races at tracks around the country. He is leaving the sport but will return from time to time next year as a guest of V8 Supercars.

The Herald Sun’s Stephen Ottley won the V8 Supercars Australia Media Award for his outstanding coverage of the 2007 Series in the News Limited Melbourne-based newspaper.

Greg Murphy Racing’s Dale Wood won the Mike Kable Young Gun Award for his sterling efforts in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series. He took the award from Jonathon Webb, Damian Assaillit and his own team-mate Sam Walter.

The first winner of the Bathurst 1000 race Harry Firth was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Firth was a spectator at the Dunlop Grand Finale at Phillip Island watching Tander strive to victory.

Tony D’Alberto was honoured for his victory in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Championship.

The spectacular Bahrain International Circuit and its Desert 400 picked up the award for the best event of 2007 following the second memorable trip to the Middle East.

The Gala Dinner hosted the heavyweights of Australian Motorsport, V8 Supercar drivers, team owners, the V8 Supercars Australia Board, business identities, leading media and political dignitaries.

2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series Awards:

Privateers Cup Champion: Tony D’Alberto, Tony D’Alberto Racing
Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series Champion: Tony D’Alberto
V8 Supercars Australia Media Award: Stephen Ottley, Herald Sun
Best Volunteer Group: Clipsal 500
Event of the Year: Desert 400, Bahrain International Circuit
Champion Manufacturer of the Year: Holden
Mike Kable Young Gun Award: Dale Wood, Greg Murphy Racing
Bathurst Champions: Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup
Armor All Pole Position Award: Mark Winterbottom, Ford Performance Racing Sidchrome Most Improved Award:
Car 51, Greg Murphy – Tasman Motorsport
Champion Team of the Year: Toll HSV Dealer Team
Barry Sheene Medal: Jamie Whincup, TeamVodafone
Armor All Best Presented Team: Jim Beam Racing
Hall of Fame: Harry Firth
2007 Champion: Garth Tander
2007 runner-up: Jamie Whincup
2007 second runner-up: Craig Lowndes

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