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17/12/2007
Christmas has come early for Brisbane based V8 Supercar team, TeamVodafone who today announced their successful partnership with Jamie Whincup would continue beyond 2008. Under a revised agreement the Barry Sheene Medalist will remain in the #88 TeamVodafone Ford Falcon at least until the end of 2009. Team Principal Roland Dane said today’s announcement was another indication of the Team’s commitment to long term success, with Whincup and teammate Craig Lowndes both on board for the next two years. “We have a very strong driver combination,” said Dane. “We want to make sure we keep this momentum going and carry our success through.”
“Jamie is a very important part of Triple Eight and this announcement underlines our future direction and more importantly gives us continuity.” “With two of the best drivers in the field onboard we look forward to the challenges of the 2008 season and are very motivated to go one place better in the championship," Dane added. Whincup, who finished runner-up in the 2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series, has enjoyed his most successful season to date, taking the endurance double – Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 - with teammate Craig Lowndes, as well as winning the Winton and Symmon’s Plains rounds. “The Team has provided me with the best equipment and infrastructure possible to win and I am very happy to be entering the next phase of my career with them,” said Whincup. “Roland approached my management and me before the final round of the Championship and I am delighted we were both able to agree to terms so quickly.” “With TeamVodafone, I have achieved many of the things on my career to do list, and now there is really only one thing remaining. After coming close this year I look forward to having another shot at the title with the Team in 2008,” Whincup acknowledged. Along with announcing the continuation of Whincup’s services, Dane also revealed that respected team Engineer, Campbell Little would take on the newly created position of Engine Development Manager in 2008 and, after three years working alongside Little, Jeromy Moore would now become the Senior Race Engineer on Car #888 Little joined Triple Eight Race Engineering (TeamVodafone) in 2004 and since then has formed a formidable partnership with the pilot of the #888 Ford Falcon Craig Lowndes, with the pair working together to claim numerous race victories. In his new role, Little will liaise between TeamVodafone and engine suppliers, Stone Brothers Racing Engines (SBRE) to ensure the continued development of the power plants used by the team in 2008 and beyond. “Since we started working with SBRE three years ago we have never had a team member whose sole focus has been to ensure the continued development of the engines in line with our team’s particular goals and needs,” Dane said. “With the departure of Ken McNamara from SBRE, after four years of great work for both Triple Eight and SBRE, Campbell seemed like the logical person to take on this new role having previously worked with Stone Brothers Racing and having him in this new position will only result in us being even more competitive in 2008.” “Over the past three years Jeromy [Moore] has proved himself as a very capable engineer and he is now ready to step up and fill the shoes vacated by Campbell due to the restructure. Meanwhile Jamie will continue to work with Mark Dutton as his Senior Race Engineer after an excellent debut season for the partnership in 2007.” After narrowly missing the 2007 V8 Supercar title by two points, TeamVodafone drivers, Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes will take a well deserved break before hitting the track at the Clipsal 500 on the 23 – 25 February 2008. |
