Formal festivities at the V8 Supercar Gala Awards dinner were completed last night with all 16 awards handed out.
The ceremony saw James Courtney officially crowned 2010 V8 Supercar Series Champion, after the Jim Beam Racing driver came out on top of TeamVodafone rival Jamie Whincup at the weekend’s Sydney Telstra 500.
Courtney also received the coveted Barry Sheene Medal for being the ‘best and fairest’ V8 Supercar driver of the season.
The new champ says that it was a good battle with TeamVodafone’s Jamie Whincup all season long.
“It’s a great feeling to finally be champion after such a long season,” he said.
“We started back in February, and since then so much has happened on and off the track. I’m just happy to come out the other end with the most points. Jamie (Whincup) and I have both had our ‘ups and downs’. He led the early part of the championship, then I got to the front and it’s been a good battle.
“Our team put in a big effort to win this thing, and I’m very grateful to them and our sponsors and supporters.”
Other highlights include the Mike Kable Young Gun Award, won by Fujitsu Series runner-up Tim Blanchard, and the Media Award – taken out by V8 Supercars’ official photographer Mark Horsburgh.
See below for a full list of the award winners.
V8 Supercars Australia Media Award | Mark Horsburgh |
Armor All Pole Position Award | Jamie Whincup |
Armor All Best Presented Team | Team Vodafone |
Privateers Cup Champion | Steve Owen |
Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series Champion | Steve Owen |
Mike Kable Young Gun Award | Tim Blanchard |
Most Improved Car Award | Car 55 – Rod Nash Racing |
Best Volunteer Group | Norton 360 Sandown Challenge |
Event of the Year | Sydney Telstra 500 |
Champion Manufacturer of the Year | Holden |
Champion Team of the Year | TeamVodafone |
Bathurst Champions | Craig Lowndes & Mark Skaife |
Barry Sheene Medal | James Courtney |
Second runner-up | Mark Winterbottom |
Runner-up | Jamie Whincup |
Champion | James Courtney |