Season in Review: Jamie Whincup

It was the first time since 2006 Jamie Whincup didn’t feature in the title fight at the end of the season, but the six-time champ leaves the season happy with what he achieved.

From the highs of winning the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy in an amazing end of year comeback, to the lows of Mount Panorama, Whincup reflected on the year that was and spoke about his soon to be teammate Shane van Gisbergen with v8supercars.com.au.

Best race of the year?

“Definitely winning the Jason Richards Trophy over in Auckland, that was the highlight of the year

"I hadn’t won that trophy before, as you know, I was good mates with JR so very proud moment in a year with not many grand prizes, for that I was certainly very thankful that I could leave 2015 with the JR Trophy.”

Best on-track battle?

“Probably the best battle was race one at Homebush – Gizzy and I were scrapping it out lap after lap around a tight, twisty street track and very happy. We both had nothing to lose as well, so very happy to grab the win there.”

Most disappointing race of the year?

“Bathurst, no doubt. The Safety Car had waved me through and they decided afterwards they didn’t wave me through – that’s the most disappointing for sure.” 

Best off-track memory of experience?

“Best – do you have a worst?”

We don’t have the worst, but I’d guess the snake bite?

“Snake bite – yes, that was my worst, add an extra one in there!

“My best off track memory – there’s so many – probably CL’s 100, for the 888th race, that was pretty special. You don’t see icons like that have that every day, so that’s huge getting the ton.”

Best performance by another driver?

“What was pretty impressive was Frosty getting pole for that first race on Saturday – that basically won him the championship. So considering the pressure and the situation, to go out there and bang it on pole, that was pretty big.”

What was your goal at the start of the season and how did it play out?

“My goal was top five, actually. And to win plenty of races, so my goal certainly wasn’t to win the Championship again. So, you know, I achieved my goals which I’d set out.

“That might sound really silly to some people, might sound way below what most other people expect. But it was always going to be a tough building year.  

“So to get Garth Tander on the last race – I think we went in 12 points behind – to get him in the last race for fifth in the Championship, believe it or not, I go into the off-season quite happy.”

An awesome run from you to come up from eighth in the last few races, the team really transformed.

“Yeah – we certainly had to make a change.

“My goal was to win Bathurst as well – it wasn’t the championship this year, it was certainly to finish in the top five of the championship but to win Bathurst, hence why it was very disappointing to lose that race, being 30 seconds ahead half way through the day.”

What was the team’s biggest achievement?

“The team’s championship, that was a long old grind at the end. Yeah, we had a wounded PRA, but hey, that’s all part of it, part of the challenge, so we had a big old grind to the end to get there in that last race. 

“Then again there was that car rebuild in Auckland as well, so it’s a tough one.

“The team’s championship, though, because it involves everyone.” 

Biggest news story or shock announcement of the year?

“There’s plenty, it’s been massive.

“Probably Marcos pulling the pin – that was this year, wasn’t it … Everyone thinks performance, everyone you talk to thinks the decision is made on performance … it plays a small factor, but even if he won Adelaide, he still would’ve ben wanting to make the decision. He probably would’ve just delayed it a little longer – so it wasn’t about the result for him, it was about everyone else.” 

Who will improve the most in 2016?

“Depending on how you look at it – as a driver you don’t improve that much, because you’ve learnt all your skills in go-karting so it’s not like someone’s going to just gain 10 per cent, otherwise they’ll dominate.

“But, as far as results go, Will Davison. Will Davison will be back up the front again … he’ll be back on the radar, whereas he’s fallen off the radar this year.”

What are you most looking forward to in 2016?

“Probably the challenge of having two teammates, rather than just one in Lowndesy.

“It’s going to be a three-way battle without Gizzy on-board so that’s going to be a serious challenge, so very much looking forward to that.”

Some of other drivers have said they’re looking forward to seeing how you and Shane go in the same team and how that plays out.

“It won’t change for me, because I sort of do my own thing, but the team dynamic will certainly change. Lowndesy and I have been sole teammates for 10 years – and we still will be continuing that – it’ll just be about Shane somewhat adapting to the Triple Eight way.”

The last race at Homebush seemed to really whet everyone’s appetite around what’s to come because of the way you guys were racing at the end.

“It should be a good battle and hopefully it’s appreciated and there’s a good battle between us – along with everyone else.

“Everyone else is not going to go away, we will have a ding dong battle all year and hopefully it’s appreciated and we make the sport better for it.”

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