FORD'S Jamie Whincup has won the V8 Supercar best-and-fairest award, while the off-season driver-go-round is about to start with rumours new champion Garth Tander could be on the move.

Whincup earned some consolation on Monday night for narrowly missing out on the V8 Supercar championship to Holden driver Tander when he won the Barry Sheene Medal at a gala dinner at Melbourne's Crown Casino.

But much of the attention has centred on possible team moves for 2008, with Tander and Holden Racing Team (HRT) driver Todd Kelly linked with moves to new teams.

Tander, who won his championship with the Toll-HSV Dealer Team, has been linked with a switch to join Mark Skaife at the Holden Racing Team for next season.

And Kelly, out of contract at HRT, has been linked with several rides for 2008, including a move to Ford to fill the seat at Stone Brothers Racing left vacant by Russell Ingall's departure.

There is also speculation Kelly could join his brother Rick at Toll-HSV should Tander move to HRT, in what would amount to a straight swap.

Ingall is set to be confirmed as a Holden driver within days, joining Paul Morris's Gold Coast-based team.

But where Kelly lands is likely to determine just who else moves where, and could well have a bearing on Tander's fate.

Any move by Tander would be a brave one, considering the Toll team is now Holden's undisputed leading outfit after successive championship wins.

Rick Kelly won the title for Toll-HSV in 2006.

No change is expected at Ford's leading team Triple Eight Racing, with rising star Whincup adding to his growing reputation with his award win.

The Barry Sheene Award, voted for on a round-by-round basis by motor sport media, is for the driver deemed to have best represented their sport on and off the track during the year.

Whincup produced his best season, rising from 10th in 2007 to second in the championship and winning his second successive Bathurst 1000 alongside Triple Eight teammate Craig Lowndes.

But it was his engaging persona and how he acquitted himself during the highs and lows of his season which also helped him earn the medal.

V8 Supercars chairman Tony Cochrane said Whincup was a thoroughly deserved winner of the award, in honour of the former motorcycle world champion.

"Jamie has shown real character this year in bouncing back from situations with real guts and determination,'' Cochrane said.

"But just as importantly he has handled himself like a consummate professional through those highs and lows.''

The first winner of the Bathurst 1000 race, Harry Firth, was inducted into the sport's Hall of Fame.

Kelly better not make a move to ford........ we dont want the prick!

I'd like to see Todd in a Ford, i doubt any team other than mummy and daddy would want Rick!
Only a mother could love that thing!!

vote 1 for todd kelly in a ford.. i'd cop that.. but rick... "b**ch please"... Thanks but NO THANKS...... and great news of jamie whincup winning the Brry sheene medal.. tops off a great year incl Sandown 500 and Back to back Bathurst victories for 888/ford.. and can take heart at so narrowly losing out in the end.. by 0.8 of a second behind todd kelly is all that seperated garth and whincup in the championship had whincup overtook kelly....

f**k all the kelly's..... rick will be ok once he reaches puberty..... cheating little b**ch

I could handle Todd in a Ford, he's not a little tosser like Rick. But with Todd being a big Holden man i dare say he'll end up driving at Toll/HSV. The rumour is Dumbrell going to the Stone's.

Todd is off to Perkins, and it's likely Tander is taking his spot at HRT, so they get the # 1 on their car next season.

yeah, didn't think he'd end up in a Ford.

NOT PRICK KELLY THE CHEATER.