Red Bull lock down SVG with new deal
SHANE van Gisbergen will be out to kickstart his Supercars title defence on home turf in New Zealand this weekend after signing a oneyear contract extension with Red Bull Holden Racing Team.
The Kiwi ace, who has had four race wins this year, yesterday signed on with the team until the end of 2019.
“I’m happy to be staying with the Red Bull Holden Racing Team for another year,” van Gisbergen said when asked about the deal.
“The first two seasons have been great, especially with the championship win last year.’’
Van Gisbergen is fifth in the overall standings and will be desperate to close the 189point gap on leader Jamie Whincup at the penultimateround Auckland SuperSprint starting tomorrow.
The Auckland-born driver’s commitment is also an endorsement for Triple Eight Race Engineering’s V6 program, as the team is set to switch all its cars to a twinturbo engine in 2019.
Triple Eight will run one V6 entry as a wildcard next year before making a fulltime move to the new engine.
“It’s a really exciting time to be part of the factory Holden team,” he said.
“The Next-Gen Commodore is coming next year and the V6 twin-turbo engine in 2019.’’
After making his Supercars debut in 2007 for Team Kiwi, van Gisbergen was snapped up by Triple Eight Race Engineering after a stint with Tekno Autosport.
He controversially broke a deal with Erebus Motorsport to make the switch.
Van Gisbergen claimed his first race win in 2011 and will be out to claim his 24th chequered flag this weekend.
“I definitely feel I’ve come on a lot over the last couple of years and Triple Eight is a great place to be,’’ he said.
“I’ve got an awesome team around me and I’m enjoying racing more than ever.”
Triple Eight managing director Roland Dane said van Gisbergen’s signing was a boon for the team and warned the driver would only improve.
“Shane has developed enormously since joining Triple Eight at the beginning of 2016,’’ Dane said.
“And we’re looking forward to seeing what we will achieve together in the years to come.
“We never had a moment of hesitation in extending our contract with Shane.”