There’s a new track and a new challenger, but the consistent thing about this year’s Supercars championship decider this weekend in Newcastle is Jamie Whincup. He’s in it to win it yet again.
When he won the title for the sixth time in 2014, Whincup set a record beyond any other Australian touring car/Supercar great.
Now, after a two-year ‘drought’, he is in the box seat for number seven, leading the championship by 30 points ahead of Kiwi Scott McLaughlin, who has never been in the Supercars title fight before.
The two of them will battle it out over two 250km races on the streets of Newcastle. It’s a brand-new track on which no-one has had the chance to test or drive at speed beforehand.
While the track has plenty of elevation change through its 2.6km and 12 turns, the fight for the title seems to be pitched on a level playing field.
You could do your head in trying to calculate the many different combinations that could lead to Whincup or McLaughlin winning the championship.
It’s a simpler proposition for the Red Holden Racing Team Commodore VFII driver of course. Those 30 points give him coverage. If he beats McLaughlin home he wins. Simple as that.
If the DJR Team Penske driver wins both races and he collects the maximum 300 points in his Shell V-Power Ford Falcon FG X then he must rely on Whincup finishing lower than second in at least one race. If Whincup goes 2-2 he wins the title by six points, if he goes 2-3 he loses by three points.
There are three other drivers still in theoretical contention, but Fabian Coulthard (-176 points), Chaz Mostert (-264) and Shane van Gisbergen (-276) would need a succession of motor racing miracles to snatch the driver’s title.
Considering the driver who has led into the last round for the last nine years has won the championship then history suggest that just isn’t going to happen.
There’s another title up for grabs this weekend and that’s’ the teams’ championship. Win that and you get pitlane garage priority in 2018. The closer to the exit the better. Shell V-Power Racing leads Red Bull by 105 points with 576 points up for grabs.
RBHRT and its Tripe Eight-run predecessors have won the teams’ title eight times. But it would be a first for DJR Team Penske, either in its current co-owned structure or back when Dick Johnson was sole owner.
Away from the championship battles, Supercars and its teams have continued to sort out their plan for 2018. Recent announcements have included:
The appointment of advertising executive Sean Seamer to replace James Warburton as Supercars CEO. The New Zealander moves from MediaCom, where he worked for 15 years, including as CEO of the local division since 2015.
The retirement of Todd Kelly from driving. The carsales.com.au Nissan Altima driver won 19 races including the 2005 Bathurst 1000 during a full-time career that started in 2000.
The retirement of Jason Bright from full-time driving. A winner of 20 races including the 1998 Bathurst 1000, he twice finished third in the championship. Bright’s situation is complicated as he owns a Racing Entitlements Contract (REC) which he will have to lease or sell for next season.
Question marks also surround the futures of Will Davison and James Moffat, while Richie Stanaway and James Golding are both expected to soon be confirmed in seats at Prodrive and Garry Rogers Motorsport respectively.
A new team that will enter the championship in 2018, dubbed 23Red Racing. It takes over from the old Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport and will run a single Prodrive Falcon for a yet-to-be announced driver -- potentially Garry Jacobson or Jack Le Brocq.
Dumbrell owns a 40 per cent stake in the new operation and long-time sponsor Phil Munday the remaining 60 per cent. Retired driver Cam McConville will be team director.
Meanwhile here's what to look out for in Newcastle this weekend:
>> The Coates Hire Newcastle 500 comprises the 25th and 26th races of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship. It includes practice on Friday and qualifying and 250km races on Saturday and Sunday. There will also be a top 10 shootout on Sunday.
>> All qualifying and racing will be conducted on the 2017-spec Dunlop soft tyre.
>> The brand-new anti-clockwise 2.6km street track has 12 turns and is expected to be completed in around 70 secs, according to simulations.
>> Whatever transpires this weekend, Scott McLaughlin can’t be beaten for the Armor All pole award. He has 14 with Shane van Gisbergen next best on three!
>> McLaughlin also has the most wins with seven. If Van Gisbergen sweeps Newcastle he can match him for the season.
>> 2015 Supercars champion Mark Winterbottom will make his 196th Supercars championship round start in Newcastle, placing him 15th on the all-time list.
>> Winterbottom need a victory in Newcastle to avoid his first winless season in 12 years. Currently eighth in the championship he also faces his worst season finish since joining Prodrive in 2006.
>> Fabian Coulthard will make his 350th championship race start on Saturday in Newcastle.