SVG continues march towards title despite young gun’s pole
SHANE van Gisbergen’s stunning championship assault has continued in South Australia with a driving masterclass putting the Holden hero another step closer to his third V8 crown.
On a day that began with a shock when wildcard driver Zac Best stunned the sport with a giant-killing poll, van Gisbergen restored V8 order when he blitzed his way around the
Bend to claim his 12th win of the year.
Beaten by Best in qualifying when the 20-year-old came from the clouds to score pole in just his second solo race, van Gisbergen hit back in emphatic style by beating Will Davison and Chaz Mostert to extend his championship lead over his only title challenger Anton De Pasquale to 321 points.
“The car was magic,” van Gisbergen said.
“Thanks so much to the team because I have been struggling with my driving.
“We ran long to get clear air and it worked. It was a really awesome day that ended with a great result.
“The guys did a great job and the pit stop was great too, so I am really stoked.”
Parachuted into the series as a wildcard in Darwin earlier this year, Best took down van Gisbergen in just his second ever qualifying session to announce himself as a future star.
Known only to the hardcore fans that have followed his feats in the Super 2 series, Best put his name up in lights by beating down V8 big-guns van Gisbergen and Cameron Waters.
Just 20 and driving a stealth black Mustang after failing to secure a sponsor, Best was as shocked as the rest of the sport after he clocked 1.47.81 to put his Tickford prepared Ford on pole.
“I wasn’t expecting this,” Best said. “I don’t really know what to say.”