Whincup sells Kate, 'greatest Holden race car of all time' and second-most successful V8 Supercar
02/18/2025 04:00 PM
One of the most sought-after Bathurst-winning V8 Supercars has been sold by Jamie Whincup, who raced the Holden Commodore to a record number of wins, including what he describes as the best of his career.
A record-setting Holden Commodore V8 Supercar driven by Jamie Whincup to a record 28 race wins – the most for a single chassis in the championship's history at the time – has been sold by Whincup himself.
The seven-time V8 Supercars champion was behind the wheel of the VE Series II Holden Commodore – which he nicknamed 'Kate' – for all 28 of its victories between 2010 and 2012.
That included an emotional triumph at the 2012 Adelaide 500 which he's described as the most special race of his record-setting career, his father having passed away the week before.
No single car in the history of V8 Supercars had won as many races at the time, its success also including Whincup's fourth Bathurst 1000 win as well playing a part in his third and four championships.
It also made it one of the most sought-after cars in the history of V8 Supercars and Bathurst history, and while its sale price is undisclosed, other prominent V8 Supercars have attracted rumoured sums of around $1 million – potentially more.
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Sydney-based Muscle Car Warehouse has prised the priceless Holden from Whincup to add to its growing collection, which already includes cars raced by Craig Lowndes, Larry Perkins and Marcos Ambrose.
The storied Commodore is the only one of Whincup's race cars the champion and Bathurst winner has ever owned.
Whincup – now the most winning driver in the sport – bought the car from his team, Triple Eight Race Engineering, after it was retired following the 2012 season for an undisclosed sum – reportedly worth around $600,000.
"In my opinion, it's the greatest Holden race car of all time. I had a lot of good memories in that car – amazing results," Whincup told Drive.
"The thought of it not being in my garage was a little hard to get my head around, but to be honest, I was actually quite frustrated that she was just sitting in my garage, so when the opportunity came around for Muscle Car Warehouse to purchase the car it made sense."
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The car has been shipped from Whincup's Gold Coast base to its new home in Sydney where it will be prominently displayed alongside another of Whincup's winners.
"For it to live beside another amazing car in Chassis 10 [888A-010] – the Betta Electrical Ford which won Bathurst 2006 [with Whincup and team-mate Craig Lowndes driving] – for people to be able to visit and have a look and see it, I think it’s a great scenario."
"Plus the fact that Muscle Car Warehouse are going to allow me to be able to use the car for events – whether it's laps here or there, or specialised events – it was a no-brainer that’s what needed to happen with 'Kate'."
The car was driven by Whincup and Paul Dumbrell – Whincup's co-driver for his Bathurst 2012 victory – during the endurance race's 60th anniversary celebrations at Mount Panorama in 2023.
It has also starred at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival and was on static display at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.
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"Maybe one day I might want to buy it back," said Whincup. "But right now, it’s the right home."
'Kate' was the most successful V8 Supercar of all-time until July 2022, when Shane van Gisbergen – also driving for Triple Eight – won his 29th race in a ZB Holden Commodore (chassis 888A-054) at Townsville.
Van Gisbergen went on to win 39 races – including two Bathurst 1000s – between 2020 and 2022 in the same car, nicknamed 'Chastitii' by the New Zealander, to convincingly take the record from Whincup's winner.
The new record holder has been restored to its 2020 Bathurst colours – celebrating both van Gisbergen's first Bathurst win the same year the Holden brand officially closed.
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"It was a strange feeling," Whincup – now a co-owner and team principal at Triple Eight – told Drive when asked about Kate's win record being beaten.
"I don’t know the exact way to explain it, but of course, a little bit disappointed the ZB Commodore beat Kate’s amount of wins, but at the same time it was great to see another Triple Eight-prepared car get that stat – what is it, chalk and cheese, sweet and sour!"
"Hopefully we can have another Triple Eight car go on to beat both those stats – that’ll make me happier again."
The post Whincup sells Kate, ‘greatest Holden race car of all time’ and second-most successful V8 Supercar appeared first on Drive.
