Whincup details personal importance of #1

Running the #1 was important to “showcase” the championship-winning efforts for Jamie Whincup.

The #1 could make its first appearance at a Supercars event in four years next weekend.

Champion-elect Shane van Gisbergen has floated the idea of running the #1 in tribute to Holden.

The VALO Adelaide 500 will be the brand’s final race before the introduction of the Chevrolet Camaro in 2023.

Whincup was the last driver to use the #1 — in 2018 — following his 2017 title triumph.

Scott McLaughlin won the 2018 title and opted to keep his famous team’s #17 for his title defence.

Speaking after his 2018 win, McLaughlin opened up on the significance of Johnson's #17.

"For me, for us and the Falcon, with 17 championship wins, and to do it for Dick Johnson and Jillie, [the] #17 car, was very special for me,” he said.

"I felt like I’ve taken onboard the #17 for the last couple of years, just trying to, I don’t know, prove it’s worth.

"He’s a legend of our sport, he’s certainly made it what it is today, and it’s unreal to be honest."

McLaughlin won the 2019 and 2020 championships before leaving for IndyCar.

The #1 was left off the grid in 2021, when van Gisbergen powered to a second drivers’ title.

Van Gisbergen retained his favoured #97 for his title defence in 2022.

McLaughlin opted to keep the #17

Only three champions since 1982 have opted against running the #1 — van Gisbergen, McLaughlin and Dick Johnson.

Johnson kept his famous #17 for his title defence in 1982, and kept it again in 1983, 1985, 1989 and 1990.

Between 1991 and 2018, the likes of Jim Richards, Mark Skaife, Glenn Seton, John Bowe, Craig Lowndes, Marcos Ambrose, Russell Ingall, Rick Kelly, Garth Tander, James Courtney, Mark Winterbottom and Whincup all campaigned the #1.

Peter Brock ran the #1 after his 1974 title, but retained his famous #05 after his 1978 and 1980 championships.

Whincup, who ran the #1 after each of his record seven titles, said the number was key to illustrate title-winning efforts.

“Guys like Skaifey, Ambrose, myself… we all ran the number one, being the championship winner,” Whincup told Supercars.com.

“I felt it was quite important to showcase the results that occurred the year before.

“We’re coming through an era of Scotty and SVG being keen to stick to their own number.

Triple Eight added the #1 after 2016 in celebration

“I think it’s 50-50 if Shane will stick to the 97 or run the one.

“It’s always good to see the number one on a car.”

Whincup will race in Adelaide aboard a Triple Eight GT Mercedes with Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim.

The Supercars Hall of Famer took 70 of his 124 career race wins with the #1 on the window.

The #1 has been taken to victory lane a total of 188 times, most recently by Whincup at the 2018 Sandown 500.

In 2017, van Gisbergen became the first driver since Johnson in 1990 to keep his own number.

A champion moving into the #1 at the end of a season is nothing new, however.

Lowndes swapped the #15 for the #1 for Bathurst after winning his 1996 and 1998 titles.

Seton did the same in 1997.

Track action will commence at the VALO Adelaide 500 next Thursday.

Full-time championship race wins with the #1 (188 wins in total)

70: Jamie Whincup35: Mark Skaife*19: Craig Lowndes16: Marcos Ambrose9: Allan Moffat8: Garth Tander*7: Glenn Seton6: Ian Geoghegan, Jim Richards5: John Bowe2: Rick Kelly, Mark Winterbottom1: Norm Beechey, James Courtney

*Shared the #1 at the 2008 Phillip Island 500