Drive of a Lifetime

by Jamie Whincup

This is the definitive account of the life and career of the winningest Supercar driver of all time, Jamie Whincup ­– most championships, most race wins, most pole positions, most podiums. But it’s also the story of the making of a champion – the drive and desire, the grind and the teamwork, the values and philosophies that it takes to get to the top, in sport and in life.

With success comes challenges, and Jamie has always had a target painted squarely on his rear spoiler. And it all started back in 1991, when his father put him behind the wheel of his first go-kart. With steely focus and a relentless desire to win, it was only a matter of time before Whincup made the leap to the Formula Ford circuit and on to the big show: Supercars.

But there are ups and downs to life in the fast lane – sackings, loss of sponsors, the rivalries, the fans, the partnerships, the sacrifices and being true to the dream when everything looks like an off-ramp. There are freak accidents, split-second decisions that win the day, omens from the race gods, and a strong dose of self-made luck.

In 2008, Jamie would seal his quest for the Supercar crown after several near-misses, and he wouldn’t look back. Seven championships, four Bathurst 1000 victories and a Bathurst 12-hour win in the books, you’d be tempted to ride off into the sunset. But that’s never been Jamie’s style. It’s just the start of his next act: team principal of Triple Eight Race Engineering and mentor to the next generation of champions.

‘You have to make a decision: What do you want out of life? Where do you want to go? How do you want to live?’

Genres: Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[William Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life is about the long game

[Chris Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rare and valuable life insights from the most successful driver in Australian Motorsport history.

Fans will love the life advice shrouded in stories from his career.

Haters will gain understanding of the man unshielded by his team, his car or his helmet.

Either way, it's a drive of a lifetime.

[Jason Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of Jamie and T8 so my opinion is a little biased :). So great to learn more about this guy who has set the bar so high with his driving skill. I can’t wait to see him take T8 into the future. Great read for any Motorsport fan, or even if you want to get inside the head of Supercars best driver ever! #eyesforward

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book, it had so many things that I wasn’t aware of, especially Jamie going through the ranks and getting into Supercars. It was great having sections written by others like Roland Dane, Mark Dutton and David Cauchy and seeing him from a different point of view.

[taegen ☾⭒ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting insight into the "behind the scenes" of one of the most successful Supercars drivers in history. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of chapters by other key players in Australian Motorsport as well as some personal stories from the man who is so famously private.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to four. Fascinating story of Jamie Whincup's career, but - and this is why I didn't give it a 5-star rating - largely missing any mention of anything that happened away from the track, so it feels incomplete as an autobiography, which I believe should be warts and all.

[Andrew Bysterveldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid read. Bought and read the book at the 2023 Bathurst 1000. I’m not really a car racing fan. This book gave me a greater appreciation for the sport. And then Whincup did an honoury lap in Kate … I knew the significance thanks to the book. Definitely worth a read.

[Jess L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone says this guy is a dooche... And yet... I found myself laughing at some of the words in this book. He's different to what people picture him to be and it's nice to get this inside view of Jamie's world... I knew I liked the guy for a reason!

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a legend. Life is about the long game.