What a massive disappointment Bahrain was a few weeks ago and Tasmania wasn’t a whole lot better, although at least I got to contest all three races in the apple isle.

As I mentioned, Bahrain was a big let down. Crashing in the first race with Mark Skaife and then facing the news that my car could not be fixed because we didn’t have the necessary parts in Bahrain, made it a long trip for little reward.

I ended up grabbing a video camera and heading out around the track to capture the action of all the other cars going around as some recon work for the team.

I actually got to use the media centre as well, which was something I’m sure the photographers enjoyed seeing. They all slung their cameras around my neck and told me to get to work.

While I made the best of the situation, I was there for only one reason - racing. And I wasn’t doing it!

Going into Tasmania I was looking for a better result. While finishing 11th for the round was much better than Bahrain, I was hoping for more pace. I believe the other teams have probably leaped forward and made advancements to their cars, which shows you always have to keep moving forward in this business.

Having said that, no one really seems to be able to come close to is 888 Racing, especially Jamie Whincup. Jamie has been ‘on it’ all season long and he deserves to be champion. He has gone about it in the most competitive way, not settling for consistent thirds (like some past champions have done) but going for outright wins all season long.

Craig Lowndes has also done well for 888, but hasn’t set the world on fire like Jamie has. Make no mistake, Jamie is a superstar. He had that ‘it’ quality during his days at Tasman and now he is fulfilling his potential and is probably the next superstar of V8 Supercars.

I was hugely surprised by the results Todd Kelly had in Tasmania. For him to be getting race wins out of a car and a team who weren’t going great all that long ago is a huge testament to his ability.

Back to Jamie and I think it’s pretty obvious he has the championship wrapped up, with the only thing that could stop him being a weekend destroying incident in qualifying. If that’s the case he will need to look out for the Jack Daniels Racing Commodores.

Jamie had an incident with Todd Kelly at Hamilton and nearly clipped a very slowly moving Jack Perkins during his first flying lap last week. I’ve heard Jamie didn’t look happy and nor should he have been, although with such a short circuit in Tasmania and everyone doing different things, incidents in qualifying can occur very quickly there.

With one round left at Oran Park, I want to end the season with a bang. Oran Park is one of my favourite circuits and is probably only second to Bathurst. I felt I should have been on the podium there last season and would love to in the track’s swansong on December 4-7.

Sorry for the gap between posts.

JR

Race 2 ended up 18 bad stop then I stalled finally had to wait for cars in pitlane. Improved car in last race and were more competitive 12th. 11th 4wkend

Struggled again in qual 17th. Had an up and down race, lost a lot of spots when I had to wait in pits for murph to get tyres due to safety car. Came back to 11

Got a bit to find at tassie, probably going to rain in qual which is going to mix it up a bit.didn’t get a lap in on new tyres today so should be better than 21