Reigning V8 Supercar Champion Jamie Whincup is close to claiming a near unbeatable tag after victory in both races of the Hamilton 400 erasing memories of the heavy accident that ruled him out of last year's event in New Zealand.
Effortless victories in the first four races of the 2009 series and aiming for back-to-back crowns, Whincup has incredibly greeted the chequered flag in 14 of his past 17 starts, in one of the most dominant streaks in V8 history.
As usual on a street circuit, there were accidents aplenty in both races, none more frightening than Marcus Marshall, who rammed a tyre bundle head on at the Tarua Chicane in the closing moments to race one, triggering the safety car bringing Whincup back to the field after establishing a six-second lead.
The pace car made little difference to the super cool 28-year-old who was still able to resist Ford Performance Racing's Mark Winterbottom and Garry Rogers Motorsports' Lee Holdsworth, who completed the podium.
“We had a crazy weekend" Whincup admitted "I was a commentator here last year and 21st in practice on Friday in a car I wasn't quite happy with, but I just go about my business, and concentrate on one race at a time.''
The Team Vodafone star was made to work harder for his win in the second 59-lap race on the 3.4km street circuit coming from fourth on the grid to hold off the challenge of Dick Johnson Racing team mates, James Courtney and Steve Johnson, after Johnson had earlier claimed his first pole in eight years in the new 20-minute Sunday morning qualifying session.
The result means the reigning V8 Supercar Champion now has a perfect 600 points from his first four races giving him a healthy lead after his nearest rivals struggled throughout the weekend. The win also secured Ford their first event win in New Zealand and just their third race win across the Tasman.
Series points Jamie Whincup (Ford) 600 Lee Holdsworth (Holden) 498 Will Davison (Holden) 483 Steven Johnson (Ford) 462 Fabian Coulthard (Ford) 354.
POSTIES IN STYLE
Australia Post has just taken delivery of its 300th Mercedes-Benz Sprinter mail van. Delivery number 300 took place exactly one year to the day Mercedes-Benz announced the contract with Australia Post to supply Sprinter vans for mail delivery duties, replacing its existing van fleet.
In full Australia Post livery and ready for duty, red Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 311 number 300 was handed over at one of Melbourne’s busiest intersections, the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets near Federation Square on Monday.
Last year, Australia Post undertook an extensive tender process to replace its existing fleet of iconic red mail delivery vans in time for Australia Post’s bicentennial year in 2009.
MANUFACTURERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Dual and defending Bathurst 12-hour winner Rod Salmon will contest the 2009 Australian Manufacturers Championship, joining a strong field of production cars doing battle during round two of the Shannon's Nationals at Wakefield Park Goulburn this weekend.
Salmon will drive his WPS Bathurst 12-hour winning Mitsubishi Evo X Lancer in the 2009 championship, which kicks off with seven manufacturers represented in an expected 20-car field.
Salmon will spearhead a two-car campaign for Team Mitsubishi Ralliart joined by West Australian Glyn Crimp in the Evo X.
The two team Mitsubishi Ralliart entries are among six cars in Class A All Wheel Drive, which consists of four Lancers and Subaru WRXs for 2008 front-runner Lee Castle and Jim Hunter.
2007 Bathurst 12-hour winner Garry Holt returns to the series in his BMW 335i and will challenge for Class A Rear Wheel Drive honours, the odd one out in a class dominated by Aussie V8s.
Class B’s Jake Camilleri will be out to continue his giant-killing run of 2008 in a Mazda 3 MPS, while reigning national champion Colin Osborne is back to defend his title aboard his trusty Toyota Celica in Class C.
The Australian Manufacturers Championship will be joined by the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship, Commodore Cup, Kerrick Sports Sedans and the V8 Touring Car Series in the Shannon's Nationals’ first visit to Wakefield Park since 2006.
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