"To not only win, but also lead the championship has far exceeded my aim before this weekend. Now I need to make sure I can remain consistent for the next championship race in New Zealand."

However Whincup refused to get too carried away with the victory and said it was too early in the season to be talking about a title challenge, preferring instead to look at the season on a race-by-race basis.

"I have had to earn my place in this championship and I know that I can't rest on this result," he said. "Today was the first race I had led since Formula Ford in 2002. In many ways I had to remember how to not just lead again, but also protect that lead.

"I'm not going to say that I'm a championship contender. The lessons I've learnt over the past four years has taught me to never look so far ahead. I really concentrate on how I perform as apposed to the results sheet. I must say that this weekend I was happy with both!

"My life has changed so much since coming to Team Betta Electrical. First of all I actually left home! The major factor is that I have never worked so close with a team before. I have exactly the same equipment as Lowndes and that is a clear sign of my role in the team; I'm not the second fiddle.

"Working with Ford has also opened my eyes. From the moment I switched they have welcomed me and although this weekend was my first race for the Blue Oval, I consider myself a Ford man."

With Whincup emerging from the weekend at the head of the pack, Ford racing manager Ray Price was a happy man – with Russell Ingall, Steve Johnson, Max Wilson and Will Davison also securing places in the top ten for the Blue Oval after the opening race of the year.

"Jamie has always been a talent, it's great for him to get his first V8 Supercar round in a Ford," Price said. "Adelaide is a very important round for us, to win it three years in a row is a further bonus.

"Jamie is not a star of the future; he's a star of today. The thing I'm really impressed with is his attitude on and off the track. Plus the fact that he's willing to learn and further develop.

"The win for Jamie and Ford in Adelaide has certainly started the 2006 season off on the right note."