Jamie Whincup will go down as one the best, if not the best Australian touring car driver of all time. Source: News Corp Australia

YESTERDAY afternoon we saw a champion officially crowned. With his sixth V8 Supercars Championship title, this man has been crowned champion of his field more than any other person before him.

He’s a humble, genuinely nice man who speaks openly about how he feels, something that isn’t seen much in his sport or in any sport.

But despite being a champion and a good bloke, Jamie Whincup seems to have more people putting him down than celebrating his achievements.

A smile and wave for the crowd. Source: News Corp Australia

During yesterday’s qualifying session at the Sydney 500 V8 Supercars race, Jamie did something very, well, un-Jamie like and made a mistake. There was cheering, lots of cheering. More cheering than any race I have been to when he had won the race.

At first I thought it was just the Volvo fans being vocal and happy that their boy Scott McLaughlin would get pole for the race. But as I looked around, it wasn’t just them, it was the Holden fans, the Ford fans, the Nissan fans and even the Erebus fans. But I guess we can excuse the Erebus fans because they don’t often have much to cheer about.

Another race win for Jamie. Source: News Corp Australia

Sure, it might be a tough gig to try and be as liked as your teammate, when that man is Craig Lowndes. One of the most genuinely nice guys in sport, Lowndes always has time for fans, always has a smile on his face. But even when you are constantly compared on a personal level to the nicest guy in the world, that’s still no reason to be vilified.

Quick to hate. Whincup ignored team orders at Bathurst this year resulting in him running out of fuel. It was later revealed, his judgment was based on the teams fuel projections which were wrong. Source: News Corp Australia

What it comes down to is the worst part of Australia’s culture. The single worst part, which hasn’t changed over years despite all the other cultural changes we’ve gone through.

We all hate seeing people achieve, we are all jealous and we all suffer from a severe case of tall poppy syndrome.

In Australia’s eyes, Jamie Whincup is “arrogant”, a “wanker” and “only wins because he has the best car”. All because he works bloody hard to be the best, and is the best at what he does. He is better than Dick Johnson was, better than Mark Skaife, and dare I say it, maybe even better than Brocky.

Australia needs to stop being a bunch of tossers and needs to encourage and praise those who excel. Not put them down.

Six time winner. An achievement no other driver holds. Source: Getty Images

But at the end of the day, when we are all long gone, no matter how much people put Jamie down, his greatness will still be there for all to see in the record books.