Crash.net's V8 Supercar season review - Part 2.

Fresh from part one of our comprehensive racing review of the 2007 V8 Supercar Championship, Crash.net's Matthew Agius evaluates the performances of the drivers in the series.

Toll HSV Dealer TeamTeam's Championship: 1st (no change)
Victories: Bigpond 400 - Barbagallo, PlaceMakers V8 Supercars NZ, Queensland Raceway, V8 Supercar Challenge - Gold Coast, Dunlop Grand Finale - Phillip Island.

Car #1 - VE Commodore - Rick Kelly (VIC)

Championship position: 4th (-4)
Round wins: 1
Race wins: 2
Podiums: 6
Top three race finishes: 15
Pole positions: 2

After winning the 2006 V8 Supercar Championship without claiming a round win, much expectation was heaped on Rick Kelly to successfully defend his title. However the double Bathurst champion successfully delivered results, and whilst unable to win the 2007 series, certainly proved his detractors wrong.

Kelly was consistently at the front of the racing pack - finishing fifteen out of thirty seven races inside the top three. He finished on the podium six times and also claimed a round win at Pukekohe in New Zealand.

With team mate Garth Tander leaving for the Holden Racing Team in 2008, Kelly now has the mantle of being number one at the Toll HSV Dealer Team. Paired with Paul Dumbrell, he will be looking to reclaim the number one plate. Given his consistency in 2007, that is certainly possible.

Rick Kelly 2007 report card: A-

Car #16 - VE Commodore - Garth Tander (WA)

Championship position: 1st (+4)
Round wins: 4
Race wins: 15
Podiums: 2
Top three race finishes: 4
Pole positions: 4

Winning more than forty percent of the races held in 2007, four round wins, and four pole positions, Garth Tander was the standout driver of the '07 championship.

In his third year at the Toll HSV Dealer Team, Tander benefited from the highest quality technology from Walkinshaw Performance, an excellent relationship with his engineer, team manager, crew, and blessed with natural talent to ensure the best possible chance at clinching a championship.

Having lost the 2000 championship to Mark Skaife, Tander narrowly won his first title at Phillip Island by two points over former team mate, Jamie Whincup.

Tander's level head, focus, and determination all worked to secure him the coveted driver's championship, and he heads into 2008, albeit at a new home (the Holden Racing Team), likely to defend his crown.

Garth Tander 2007 report card: A+

Holden Racing TeamTeam's Championship: 3rd (+4)
Victories: Clipsal 500 Adelaide; Eastern Creek.

Car #2 - VE Commodore - Mark Skaife (NSW)

Championship position: 8th (+8)
Round wins: 1
Race wins: 5
Podiums: 2
Top three race finishes: 5
Pole positions: 0

Winning a record thirty-eighth round was the highlight of Mark Skaife's 2007 campaign, but otherwise, it was another disappointing year for the five-time series champion and Bathurst king.

Skaife suffered from poor car reliability and a general lack of speed. Despite this, there were glimpses of brilliance from the HRT leader, with five race wins improving on his 2006 record. Conversely, silly mistakes also cost him better results, especially in wet races such as Winton, Oran Park and Bathurst.

His roller coaster year was exemplified by his contraction of appendicitis before the Sandown 500, resulting in him missing a key chance for a good points haul, and denting his championship position.

2008 shows promise for Skaife and the Holden Racing Team, but he will need to stand up and return to the winners' circle on a consistent basis, else risk the threat of being overshadowed by his new team mate, reigning champion Garth Tander.

Mark Skaife 2007 report card: B

Car #22 - VE Commodore - Todd Kelly (VIC)

Championship position: 6th (no change)
Round wins: 1
Race wins: 3
Podiums: 2
Top three race finishes: 4
Pole positions: 3

Todd Kelly remains one of the unluckiest drivers in V8 Supercars.

Despite beginning the series with a round win in Adelaide and taking the lead of the championship, Kelly's Holden Racing Team Commodore was soon seen battling mid pack - suffering the same fate as his team mate, with cars that could not match the pace of the front runners.

Kelly again proved to be an ace qualifier - with three pole positions to his name.

He managed to finish sixth in the championship, which, given his run of bad luck, would have been encouraging, and was unchanged on his 2006 series finish.

After five years at the Holden Racing Team, Kelly will move on to new pastures in 2008, with his first ever role as a lead driver with Larry Perkins' Jack Daniel's Racing team, where it is likely that he will still contest for race and round victories.

Todd Kelly 2007 report card: B

Tasman MotorsportTeam's Championship: 7th (+4)

Car #3 -VE Commodore - Jason Richards (NZL)

Championship position: 14th (+4)
Podiums: 1
Top three race finishes: 2

A year of inconsistency and reliability hurt Jason Richards, but a solid end to the year holds him in good stead to crack into the top ten in 2008.

Richards is a highly regarded steerer, but was one of many drivers to suffer from poor reliability and a lack of speed at several rounds. Despite this, several quality performances at the tail end of the season, including a podium at Surfers Paradise, are encouraging for both Richards and Tasman Motorsport.

The key to his 2008 campaign will be consistency, as there were several occasions - notably race one at Phillip Island, where he thew away a good finish by overdriving the car. It is certainly possible for him to finish inside the top ten next year.

Jason Richards 2007 report card: B-

Car #51 - VE Commodore - Greg Murphy (NZL)

Championship position: 13th (+11)
Best round result: 4th
Best race result: 4th

There is always a degree of difficulty settling into a new team, but Greg Murphy seemed to show little sign of this during his first year as a Tasman Motorsport driver.

Murphy, after doing it tough at Supercheap Auto Racing in 2006, displayed encouraging consistency at his new home - fourth at Bathurst the highlight of his year.

After suffering at Supercheap Auto Racing last year, Murphy finished thirteenth in his debut year with Tasman - showing promise for years to come - at what will probably be the New Zealander's home until retirement.

With several changes in the engineering department at the team next year Murphy will be looking to return to his former winning ways in 2008. It is imperative that Tasman can nail car setups at every round, to ensure Murphy races consistently inside the top ten.

Greg Murphy 2007 report card: B-

Stone Brothers RacingTeam's Championship: 5th (-1)

Car #4 - BF Falcon - James Courtney (NSW)

Championship position: 9th (+2)
Podiums: 3
Top three race finishes: 7
Pole positions: 1

In his second season as a full time V8 driver, James Courtney showed signs of improvement.

He opened his 2007 campaign with pole position at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide, and generally qualified within the top ten of most rounds, but suffered from a drop in performance at Stone Brothers Racing during the season.

SBR was not all to blame, Courtney also enduring mid-pack incidents and also committing his own mistakes.

However after his difficult initiation as a full-time driver last year, Courtney's 2007 campaign was a wholesale improvement on his previous result. The former F1 test driver earned ninth place in the championship, courtesy of his three podium finishes - highlighted by his second place finish with David Besnard at Bathurst.

2008 holds much promise for Courtney - now the definite number one at the team - courtesy of the departure of his team-mate and his top ten finish in 2007. If Courtney and SBR can gradually make progressive steps in car-development and driver consistency, they will form a formidable combination, and can aim to emulate the glory days of the SBR-Marcos Ambrose partnership.

James Courtney 2007 report card: B

Car #9 - BF Falcon - Russell Ingall (GBR)

Championship position: 11th (-3)
Podiums: 1
Top three race finishes: 3

A disappointing season for Russell Ingall brought his five year relationship with Stone Brothers Racing and Ford to a premature end.

From as early as round three, Ingall was rumoured to be leaving SBR, after consistently being overshadowed by his younger team-mate. After James Courtney claimed pole and a podium at the Clipsal 500, Ingall was on the back foot.

Poor qualifying performances did not assist the 2005 drivers' champion, and there was a clear disharmony between the Enforcer and his 2007 race package.

Finishing eleventh in the series - his first ever championship result outside of the top ten - was a disappointing end to Ingall's season. He netted just one podium - a second place finish at Surfers Paradise, and was unable to match the pace shown by his team-mate, James Courtney.

Ingall will depart Ford and SBR in 2008, rejoining Holden with a Supercheap Auto supported Paul Morris Motorsports, but it remains to be seen if Ingall will challenge again for victories, or if the switch is simply to secure the Englishman a comfortable retirement home.

Russell Ingall 2007 report card: C+

Ford Performance RacingTeam's Championship: 4th (-2)
Victories: Desert 400 - Bahrain

Car #5 - BF Falcon - Mark Winterbottom (NSW)

Championship position: 5th (-2)
Round wins: 1
Race wins: 2
Podiums: 1
Top three race finishes: 5
Pole positions: 4

One of the stars of the 2007 championship was Mark Winterbottom - who won the ArmorAll pole position award.

Despite a difficult start to the championship in Adelaide, Winterbottom showed consistent car speed for FPR throughout the championship, netting five poles and his debut solo round win at the Bahrain International Circuit.

In addition, the 2003 Fujitsu V8 Series champion finished in the top three five times, finished once on the podium and collected two race wins.

Winterbottom stands as a championship favourite for 2008, but he and FPR need to convert their dominant qualifying pace into consistent top three finishes if he is to challenge Garth Tander for the crown.

Mark Winterbottom 2007 report card: A

Car #6 - BF Falcon - Steven Richards (NZL)

Championship position: 7th (no change)
Race wins: 1
Podiums: 3
Top three race finishes: 4

After five years at Holden, Steven Richards moved to Ford in 2008, and after finding his feet within Ford Performance Racing, proved to be a consistent competitor in the championship.

The New Zealander struggled early in the championship - clearly struggling to come to terms with a new car and a new home. But Richard's professionalism prevailed, and he began to repair his championship standing mid-way through the championship, with podiums at Oran Park and Sandown, before several top three finishes at the end of the season - including a second placing overall at Symmons Plains, helped secure him seventh in the championship.

Richards consistent efforts were overshadowed by the freakish speed displayed by his younger team-mate, however if he can continually plug away at top five finishes in 2008, the Kiwi may crack the top five by year's end.

Steven Richards 2007 report card: B

Jack Daniel's RacingTeam's Championship: 16th (-11)

Car #7 - VE Commodore - Shane Price (VIC)

Championship position: =36th (no change)
Best round result: 9th
Best race result: 12th

Having completed a full season in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar championship in 2006, Shane Price's initiation into the main game proved to be a baptism of fire.

With no clear or established leader at Jack Daniel's Racing following the departures of Steve Richards and Paul Dumbrell, Shane Price was well and truly thrown into the deep end.

The son of Aussie karting magnate Drew Price, Shane did show glimpses of his racing potential, performing well at Winton and Bahrain, but was unable to really challenge for consistent points - generally performing outside the top twenty.

Price will remain at JDR in 2008, but with ex-Holden Racing Team driver Todd Kelly as team-mate - allowing Price to benefit from having a more experienced head guiding him in his second season.

Shane Price 2007 report card: C

Car #11 - VE Commodore - Jack Perkins (VIC)

Championship position: =48th (+9)
Best round result: 11th
Best race result: 18th

Like his team-mate, Jack Perkins made his full-time main game debut in 2007 after a full campaign in the feeder series.

Perkins really struggled however, finishing forty-eighth in the championship, with only scoring points in one round of the championship.

His campaign ended prematurely after being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes after Bahrain - forcing him to sit out the final two rounds of the championship.

Perkins is expected to run in the Fujitsu Series in 2008 after Todd Kelly replaced him at Jack Daniel's Racing.

Jack Perkins 2007 report card: C-

Car #11 - VE Commodore - Marcus Marshall (TAS)

Championship position: =48th (-19)
Best round result: 16th
Best race result: 14th

Marcus Marshall was an endurance driver for Jack Daniel's Racing in 2007, and replaced Jack Perkins after the latter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

The ex-Champ Car driver ran consistently, despite competing in only two sprint rounds. He finished sixteenth at Symmons Plains - scoring points in two races.

Marshall has been signed to drive the second Britek Motorsport Falcon in 2008, and should benefit from his previous V8 experience, and increased engineering development from that team.

Marcus Marshall 2007 report card: C-

WPS/WOW RacingTeam's Championship: 9th (-1)

Car #8 - BF Falcon - Max Wilson (BRZ)

Championship position: 17th (-2)
Best round result: 7th
Best race result: 7th

2007 was a tough year for Max Wilson, with several retirements impeding consistent performances at most events.

Despite this, the Brazilian displayed good speed throughout the year as WPS Racing improved their car package.

He finished seventh at Bathurst with team-mate Jason Bargwanna - a fitting finish for one of the most experienced driver combination in the race paddock.

The 2008 championship looks promising for Wilson, but his speed will only benefit if the team is able to improve their performance. With ex-FPR Falcons rumoured to be on the WPS/WOW shopping list - it is entirely possible that Wilson could finish close to the top ten.

Max Wilson 2007 report card: C+

Car #10 - BF Falcon - Jason Bargwanna (NSW)

Championship position: 18th (-4)
Best round result: 7th
Best race result: 7th

Jason Bargwanna finished eighteenth in the championship - just a solitary point behind his team-mate.

And his performance throughout the 2007 series was essentially a carbon copy of Wilson - similar race results, similar car reliability and identical car speed - Bargwanna produced as much speed possible from his old WPS Falcon.

Despite dropping four places on his 2006 performance, his top ten race performances at Mount Panorama and Surfers Paradise were high points in his campaign, and the former Bathurst winner will be looking to move up the championship table in 2008.

Jason Bargwanna 2007 report card: C+

Team BOCTeam's Championship: 17th (-5)

Car #12 - BF Falcon - Andrew Jones (NSW)

Championship position: 44th (-18)
Best round result: 18th
Best race result: 7th

Team BOC struggled in 2007 and was the worst placed Ford team. The loss of John Bowe as lead driver really hurt the team, and with the incoming Andrew Jones joining his uncle Brad at the start of the season, the team was in a difficult predicament.

With Brad Jones retiring, and a relatively young and inexperienced Andrew driving the #12 car, Team BOC was without a clear leader. This showed in their results - especially those of Andrew - who completed the full season with the team.

A best race result of seventh and overall result of eighteenth was not what the doctor ordered for 'AJ', but with the team switching to Holden in 2008, he may benefit from the use of Walkinshaw Performance Commodores.

Andrew Jones 2007 report card: D

Car #14 - BF Falcon - Simon Wills (NZL)

Championship position: =45th (no 2006 result)
Best round result: 19th
Best race result: 10th

Simon Wills replaced Brad Jones at Team BOC, but driving one of the most under performing chassis in the field, he was unable to claim solid points finishes.

Regarded as one of the best drivers to often be left on the outer of the V8 fraternity, Wills managed to claim a best finish of nineteenth and finished tenth in a race.

Wills will be replaced by Cameron McConville at the team upon its switch to Holden, so his future as a full-time driver is again uncertain.

Simon Wills 2007 report card: D++

Car #14 - BF Falcon - Bradley Jones (NSW)

Championship position: =54th (retired after four rounds; -39)
Best round result: no points
Best race result: 20th

Brad Jones entered the 2007 season with his nephew as team-mate, but without the expertise of former partner John Bowe at Team BOC, his Albury operation suffered.

Jones retired from full-time driving after three rounds, with no points scored and a best race finish of twentieth.

Brad Jones 2007 report card: Requirements not met

Jim Beam RacingTeam's Championship: 6th (no change)

Car #17 - BF Falcon - Steven Johnson (QLD)

Championship position: 12th (-3)
Podiums: 2
Top three race finishes: 2

Steven Johnson's form improved in 2007. Whilst his championship position dropped, his consistency and pace improved - only losing good finishes through poor reliability.

A commanding performance in the final stages of the Bathurst 1000 was undoubtedly the highlight of Johnson's year, as he drove to third place behind Craig Lowndes and James Courtney.

Johnson also gained another podium finish in the Desert 400 at Bahrain - a testament to his hard off-season fitness regime, natural ability and the development work of the Jim Beam team.

On the back of his strong effort across the 2007 championship, Johnson is poised to crack the top ten frequently in 2008.

Steven Johnson 2007 report card: B+

Car #18 - BF Falcon - Will Davison (VIC)

Championship position: 10th (+9)
Podiums: 1
Top three race finishes: 2

Like his team mate, Will Davison had a bumper year for Jim Beam Racing.

The one-time Minardi Formula One test driver finished on the podium at Bathurst with Johnson, but also finished two races in the top three.

Davison's successful championship campaign culminated with a top ten finish overall, eclipsing his team mate to be JBR's top driver for the year. Given this strong year-long performance Davison will aim to challenge for race wins in sprint rounds - he certainly has the potential and so does his team.

Will Davison 2007 report card: B+

Supercheap Auto RacingTeam's Championship: 10th (-1)

Car #20 - VE Commodore - Paul Dumbrell (VIC)

Championship position: 23rd (-11)
Best round result: 6th
Best race result: 6th

For the 2007 championship, Paul Dumbrell turned his back on lead-driver status at Jack Daniel's Racing, and jumped ship to the Supercheap Auto operation.

It was a mistake, with the team failing to develop the new VE Commodore to a competitive standard, and Dumbrell's best result a top six place in the Sandown 500 alongside Paul Weel.

Fortunately for the former Fujitsu Series champion, Dumbrell will move to the current Teams' Championship winner, the Toll HSV Dealer Team. There he will partner Rick Kelly and will have top grade championship-winning machinery at his disposal - 2008 will really show whether Dumbrell is a top line driver.

Paul Dumbrell 2007 report card: D+

Car #50 - VE Commodore - Cameron McConville (VIC)

Championship position: 34th (-21)
Best round result: 11th
Best race result: 9th

Cameron McConville suffered most from the performance decline of Supercheap Auto Racing.

His best outright finish was an eleventh place, and the highly-regarded steerer dropped twenty-one spots in the championship to finish thirty-fourth.

It was typical of the team's fall from grace in the championship, as slow development of the new VE Commodore resulted in McConville struggling for pace at most events.

McConville will move to Brad Jones Racing in 2008, and with Walkinshaw Performance assistance benefiting the team, is likely to move to the front of the pack.

Cameron McConville 2007 report card: D

Britek MotorsportTeam's Championship: 13th (+1)

Car #25 - BF Falcon - Jason Bright (VIC)

Championship position: 21st (-16)
Best round result: 11th
Best race result: 7th

Jason Bright's monumental fall in championship standing came as a result of switching from the mighty Ford Performance Racing to his own team.

Bright's undeniable talent still shone through in his stints behind the wheel in 2007, but he struggled with a slower chassis and engine package, coupled with poor reliability.

Remarkably, Bright nearly won the Bathurst 1000, but instead crashed out of the race in the dying stages.

The Fujitsu Falcon driver will aim to reduce his infrequent errors in 2008, but it will be up to his team to deliver in car performance if he is to move back into the front of the pack.

Jason Bright 2007 report card: C

Car #26 - BF Falcon - Alan Gurr (NSW)

Championship position: =53rd (-20)
Best round result: 25th
Best race result: 15th

Gaining his first full-time drive in V8 Supercars, Alan Gurr struggled in an older Britek motorsport Falcon.

With little or no experience at many tracks, Gurr was unable to crack the top fifteen - only making a solitary appearance in the points where he finished fifteenth.

As such, Gurr has been moved on for 2007, and is unlikely to return full-time in the foreseeable future. He has been replaced by Marcus Marshall.

Alan Gurr 2007 report card: D-

Valvoline Cummins Race TeamTeam's Championship: 8th (+2)
Victories: Jim Beam 400 - Oran Park

Car #33 - VE Commodore - Lee Holdsworth (VIC)

Championship position: 15th (+5)
Round wins: 1
Race wins: 1

A mid-season revelation, Lee Holdsworth won his first ever main game round at a rain-soaked Oran Park.

Despite struggling in the team's VZ package for the beginning of the season, he was graced with a newly developed VE Commodore midway through the championship, and began claiming impressive points finishes, including a fifth place at Sandown with team mate, Dean Canto.

Jumping five places on his 2006 series finish, Holdsworth heads into his third season at the Garry Rogers Motorsport operation with fresh resolve to claim another round victory.

Lee Holdsworth Report card: B-

Car #34 - VE Commodore - Dean Canto (NSW)

Championship position: 16th (+1)
Best round result: 5th
Best race result: 5th

Double Fujitsu Series Champion, Dean Canto, was a rock for the Valvoline Cummins Race Team, but was shadowed by his younger team mate Lee Holdsworth.

He worked to develop the team's new VE Commodore package, and whilst his early season performances were consistent, he was unable to outrace Holdsworth once the team's new VE Commodore was delivered to the younger driver.

Canto's 2008 campaign could be make or break for the underrated pilot, and it is critical that he challenges for points from the get-go, and is able to rival the pace of his team mate.

Dean Canto 2007 report card: C+

Team Sirromet WinesTeam's Championship: 12th (+1)

Car #39 - VZ Commodore - Owen Kelly (TAS)

Championship position: 24th (+27)
Best round result: 3rd*
Best race result: 3rd*

*as endurance driver for Ford Performance Racing.

Owen Kelly raced in the endurance events for Ford Performance Racing, finishing on the Sandown podium with Steve Richards, and later replaced Fabian Coulthard in Team Sirromet Wines' second car.

Like all drivers to pilot the #39 VZ Commodore, Kelly struggled for good results - not scoring any points during his brief foray with the Queensland team.

He will not drive full-time in the 2008 championship, and like many ring-in drivers, will continue as an endurance driver.

Owen Kelly 2007 report card: D

Car #39 - VZ Commodore - Fabian Coulthard (NZL)

Championship position: 47th (-15)
Best round result: 21st
Best race result: 14th

Fabian Coulthard, a former Carrera Cup champion, drove the majority of sprint races for Team Sirromet Wines in 2007.

He struggled for consistency, battling the low-grade performance of the #39 Commodore, and also the typicality of mid pack carnage.

He was dropped from racing duties after the endurance races, but was signed to replace John Bowe at Glenfords Racing in 2008. It remains to be seen if Coulthard has the ability to perform in the big league, but being at a young single-car team will make his task all the more difficult.

Fabian Coulthard 2007 report card: D

Car #39 - VZ Commodore - Steve Ellery (QLD)

Championship position: 48th (-17)
Best round result: 15th
Best race result: 15th

Steve Ellery raced at selected sprint rounds for Team Sirromet Wines, in addition to co-driver duties with team owner Paul Morris in the long-distance races.

The former full-time driver was unable to gain good results in sprint rounds, driving the team's perennial under performing second car, and had a best finish of fifteenth in the enduros.

He is likely to sit out the 2008 championship, resigned again to endurance driving.

Steve Ellery 2007 report card: D

Car #67 - VE Commodore - Paul Morris (VIC)

Championship position: 22nd (+1)
Best round result: 12th
Best race result: 8th

Paul Morris surely took the mantle as the year's most costly driver. He was involved in several high-profile stoushes on the track - first after tangling with Brad Jones in a high-speed crash at Pukekohe, then in several notorious entanglements in Bahrain.

His championship position improved one place on his 2006 effort, but overall, it was a disappointing year for the Queenslander, and he will look to improve in 2008.

Morris will be joined by Russell Ingall at the team in 2008, and given Ingall's championship credentials over the past ten years, finally has a team mate that will challenge him consistently.

Paul Morris 2007 report card: C-

Autobarn Race TeamTeam's Championship: 11th (+4)

Car #55 - VZ Commodore - Steve Owen (VIC)

Championship position: 19th (+2)
Best round result: 6th
Best race result: 6th

Steve Owen was 2007's best single car performer and consistently placed inside the top fifteen.

Despite being the driver of a single car team, Owen outraced many dual-car teams and proved his worth behind the wheel of one of the only VZ Commodores in the field.

Owen was rumoured as a possible candidate for the #9 Stone Brothers Racing car, but remains likely to continue with Autobarn in 2008.

Steve Owen 2007 report card: B

Team VodafoneTeam's Championship: 2nd (+1) Victories: Winton Raceway, Skycity Triple Crown - Hidden Valley, Just Car Insurance 500 - Sandown, Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, Falken Tasmania Challenge - Symmons Plains

Car #88 - BF Falcon - Jamie Whincup (VIC)

Championship position: 2nd (+8)
Round wins: 4
Race wins: 5
Podiums: 3
Top three race finishes: 15
Pole positions: 1

Few young drivers in motorsport truly come-of-age, but Jamie Whincup showed maturity and class during his 2007 campaign.

Outclassing his team mate on many occasions, Whincup took solo victories at Winton and Symmons Plains in addition to an enduro double. He consistently raced to podiums and race victories, and finished the season in second place, a mere two points adrift of eventual series winner, Garth Tander.

Whincup utilised the latest chassis from the Triple Eight engineering department, which aided his cause immensely, and proved on many occasions to be the fastest driver-car combination in the field.

2008 holds much promise for Whincup, who will aim to go one better and reclaim the title for Ford, given his new mantle as the Blue Oval's main man.

Jamie Whincup 2007 report card: A

Car #888 - BF Falcon - Craig Lowndes (VIC)

Championship position: 3rd (-1)
Round wins: 3
Race wins: 6
Podiums: 2
Top three race finishes: 7

After finishing runner-up in the 2005 and 2006 championships, Craig Lowndes continued his front-running form in 2007.

However he was overshadowed by team mate Jamie Whincup - and was unable to realistically challenge for the title during the final rounds of the championship.

Lowndes's championship started slowly with average showings in the opening rounds. Notably, he claimed his first race podium at Eastern Creek - five rounds into the series!

Outright victories at Hidden Valley, Sandown and Bathurst were high points in Lowndes' year, but it was a decidedly less impressive season from the triple champion - his first without claiming a pole position.

Having run much of his campaign with an older car, Lowndes' quest probably suffered as a consequence, but should benefit from gaining a new car in 2008.

Craig Lowndes 2007 report card: B+

Team Kiwi RacingTeam's Championship: 14th (+2)

Car #021 - BF Falcon - Paul Radisich (NZL)

Championship position: 20th (+8)
Podiums: 1*
Top three race finishes: 1*

*as endurance driver for Toll HSV Dealer Team

Paul Radisich's season started with difficulty - Adam Macrow driving the #021 Team Kiwi Racing Falcon as he continued his recovery from injuries sustained at Bathurst in 2006.

Radisich stepped into the car at Barbagallo, running in the mid pack, before performing solidly at Pukekohe.

The former World Touring Car Champion left TKR after Winton, sighting breaches in his contract, after Ford Performance Racing terminated their technical assistance package with the team.

Radisich went on to finish second in the Sandown 500 with the Toll HSV Dealer Team, but is likely to sit out the 2008 championship with no full-time drive secured.

Paul Radisich 2007 report card: C

Car #021 - BF Falcon - Shane Van Gisbergen (NZL)

Championship position: 43rd (first season)
Best round result: 15th
Best race result: 14th

Following the mid-season driver and development crisis at Team Kiwi Racing, Shane Van Gisbergen was handed a drive for the single-car team following a satellite deal with Stone Brothers Racing.

Despite never turning the wheel of a V8 Supercar, 'Gis' scored points in every sprint round of the championship that he participated in.

Van Gisbergen's future prospects are uncertain - but he will definitely drive in the series, either at TKR or SBR.

Shane Van Gisbergen 2007 report card: C

Glenfords RacingTeam's Championship: 15th (+2)

Car #111 - BF Falcon - John Bowe (TAS)

Championship position: 30th (-7)
Best round result: 12th
Best race result: 12th

In his retirement year of V8 Supercar racing, John Bowe signed a one-off deal with Paul Cruickshank's Glenfords Racing operation, to fast track the team's development in their second season.

The 1995 Australian Touring Car Champion finished thirtieth in the championship, but as the oldest V8 driver in the series' youngest team, impressive results were not expected.

Rather, Bowe's invaluable experience contributed to the further development of the team. Driving the #111 Glenfords Falcon, he had a best finish of twelfth and retired from the championship as one of the highest regarded and best admired faces in the paddock.

John Bowe 2007 report card: C-