Winslow headed into the final double-header round of 2008, the Country Club Superprix at Symmons Plains, with a one-point lead over his main rival and, having once again managed to raise the finance to compete, repaid the faith shown in him by immediately increasing his advantage with the bonus points for pole position in each of the two qualifying sessions, despite rain interfering with both.
Race one opened with Winslow involved in a slip-streaming battle with his main title rival Tander and the surprising Matthew Radisich, but eventually pulled clear after breaking the tow with three laps in the books. However, just as he appeared set for a comfortable victory, after leading for 15 laps, the safety car was deployed, wiping out a five-second cushion and allowing the pack to close in.
To make matters worse, the rain returned as the field prepared to restart, and allowed two cars to tow past the BRM machine as they got the green flag. With everyone still on slicks on the wet track, however, Winslow knew that running in the pack posed the biggest threat to his title ambitions and, with the bonus for fastest lap already in his pocket, pushed hard to reclaim the lead.
“I knew that maximum points would be enough to clinch the championship, so I pushed as hard as I dared in the very slippery conditions and managed to get past the two cars on the final lap,” he said, “Taking the win and the championship in such a hard-fought way made it the best race of my life. It was a great feeling.”
Sadly, there was to be no celebration run in the second race of the weekend, the second-ever Country Club SuperPrix for the John Bowe Trophy. Again, Winslow was leading on lap three, but the clutch failed and Winslow lost drive on the BRM machine and he was forced to retire from the race.
Winning the championship not only gave Winslow the CAMS Gold Star, which has been claimed previously by the likes of Indy Car star Will Power and V8 Supercar champion Rick Kelly, but also opened up a strong chance of competing at the ‘World cup’ Formula 3 event at Macau in November
The collapse of a financial institution (James’s sponsor) forced the Briton to change his career ambitions and the chance to perform on the international Indy Car and Sportscar stage, but also meant that hard times were ahead if his Australian F3 ambitions were to survive.
“It has definitely been the toughest year of my career,” Winslow admitted, “It was a real struggle to find the funds to continue after losing such a big backer in March, but I have worked so hard for this – on the track and off it – that it makes taking the title all the more memorable.
“There have been a lot of key people who have made this championship win happen, but none are as important as Anthony Blumberg and family who brought me to Australia, did so much for me and put everything in motion at the start of 2007, I’m just so happy to have won this title for them”
“Of course, I have been fortunate to have had so many great people and a great Team helping me get through the season, and all their efforts have paid off. It's an unbelievable feeling to have pulled off something that, at times, appeared near-impossible. Although I have won titles in the past, this is perhaps the sweetest because of what we have gone through, and it gives me more drive to go on and achieve more in the future.”
“Team BRM have really gone the extra mile to get this title and help me continue my championship winning streak, I owe the Rundle family a huge thank you, JP Messenger (my engineer) did a perfect job and gave me a winning car every time along with Phil as top man on the spanners, with Mark and Chris”
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