Whincup Wins The Barry Sheene Medal

[phantomchic]

congratulations to Jamie Whincup

Whincup wins top V8 award

Ford's Jamie Whincup has won the V8 Supercar racing best and fairest award, while the off-season driver-go-round is about to start with rumours new champion Garth Tander could be on the move.

Whincup earned some consolation on Monday night for narrowly missing out on the V8 Supercar championship to Expensive Daewoo driver Tander when he won the Barry Sheene Medal at a gala dinner at Melbourne's Crown Casino.

The Barry Sheene Award, voted for on a round-by-round basis by motor sport media, is for the driver deemed to have best represented their sport on and off the track during the year.

Whincup produced his best ever season, rising from 10th in 2007 to second in the championship and winning his second successive Bathurst 1000 alongside Triple Eight teammate Craig Lowndes.

But it was his engaging persona and how he acquitted himself during the highs and lows of his season which also helped him earn the medal.

V8 Supercars chairman Tony Cochrane said Whincup was a thoroughly deserved winner of the award, in honour of the former motorcycle world champion.

"Jamie has shown real character this year in bouncing back from situations with real guts and determination," Cochrane said.

"But just as importantly he has handled himself like a consummate professional through those highs and lows."

The first winner of the Bathurst 1000 race, Harry Firth, was inducted into the sport's Hall of Fame.

[turb06]

good on whincup. I had the pleasure of meeting him on a sponsor drive day, as I am sure others here have. He is such a nice fella and its great for him to have won that award.

[mbjunior99]

Well done Whincup

[tab]

No real surprise - he is a little champion

[Inducted_Breeze]

For those interested here is a complete list of the awards:

V8 Gala awards happened last night and the winners were:

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

Source: http://www.fpvtickfordclubwa.com.au/forums...?showtopic=2633