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The V8 Supercars are back at Winton Motor Raceway this weekend, November 16 to 18.

As the second-last event on the calendar, Winton will go a long way to deciding who will be the 2012 V8 Supercar Champion.

The tight and twisty layout features a range of slow corners which combine to make Winton the slowest circuit — and one of the most challenging — on the V8 Supercar calendar. A total of 12 corners linked by short straights, it was lengthened by a kilometre in 1997. This year’s V8 Supercar event will consist of two races, with a mixture of hard and soft tyre compounds sure to provide plenty of overtaking. Support categories at the event will be the Dunlop V8 Supercar Development Series, V8 Utes, Aussie Racing Cars and Formula Atlantic.

Winton Motor Raceway is Australia’s premier spectator circuit, as it is one of the few venues where you can see the entire track from most vantage points. It is also the only circuit apart from Mount Panorama where spectators can enjoy the atmosphere and convenience of trackside camping.Stone Brothers on top

V8 Supercars’ trip to Abu Dhabi saw Stone Brothers Racing return to the podium, but their drivers warn the series’ next stop at Winton may be a different story.Championship points

1Jamie Whincup3360 points

2Mark Winterbottom3064 points

3Craig Lowndes2971 points

4Will Davison2779 points

5Shane van Gisbergen2434 points

6Tim Slade2319 points

7Garth Tander2232 points

8Lee Holdsworth1913 points

9David Reynolds1875 points

10Fabian Coulthard1843 points2011 in review at Winton

Jamie Whincup won Saturday’s Race 10 — his fifth race win for the season. Whincup stopped on lap 14 and while other drivers were unable to keep the pace with fading tyre grip after stopping early, the TeamVodafone Holden had the pack covered and took first place. Lee Holdsworth drove a strong race to snag second place, just 0.03second in front of Steven Johnson after the two drag-raced to the line off the last corner of 40 laps of racing.

Jason Bright won Sunday’s Race 11, with a superior strategy paying off in the face of darkening skies that eventually produced a deluge after the race ended. Whincup finished second, with the final podium spot going to Garth Tander.Meet the drivers

For your chance to meet some of the top V8 Supercars drivers up close and personal, be at the Town Hall tomorrow night from 5pm to 5.45pm. This is an opportunity to chat to and get autographs from the likes of Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup, Will Davison, Mark Winterbottom, Greg Murphy and brothers Rick and Todd Kelly to name a few.