Van Gisbergen slick, quick and has eye on title
TRAVIS MEYN COME and catch me.
Supercars ace Shane Van Gisbergen sounded a warning to his chasers yesterday with a blistering start to the Gold Coast 600.
The championship leader was the fastest in practice on the streets of Surfers Paradise, kicking off his campaign for a third straight year of success at the concrete canyon in style.
Van Gisbergen has won on the Gold Coast for the past two years and put himself in the box seat for a victory in today’s 300km endurance test.
The Red Bull Racing Australia star has a 139-point lead from teammate Jamie Whincup at the top of the championship standings.
He has been reluctant to talk about his chances of winning a maiden title, but yesterday opened up about the opportunity in front of him with three rounds to go.
“You’re always nervous to a certain extent,” van Gisbergen said.
“I’m more pumped and excited. I’ve got a pretty good opportunity here.
“I haven’t had a shot like this before, with a good team, great car and good co-driver (Alex Premat) as well.
“We’ve had a really good endurance season.
“I’m more excited than anything to push on and try and get as many points as we can,” he said.
“Every driver loves coming here when you have a good car and can commit. I love racing here. I’ve had a good car the last few years and been pretty lucky so hopefully it goes on.”
Whincup and Van Gisbergen traded fastest lap times throughout yesterday’s third and final practice session before the Kiwi ace edged away with a slick 1:10.4206.
Volvo’s Scott McLaughlin continued his strong recent form to finish second with 1:10.5758 and teammate James Moffat rounded out the top three.
Chaz Mostert, Whincup and David Reynolds all closed out the session well and will head into qualifying confident.
Veteran Craig Lowndes said Van Gisbergen would be tough to catch and qualifying would prove crucial at the tight circuit, especially given he will share a boom with Whincup.
“There’s no doubt Shane has had great performances here in the past,” Lowndes said.
“We all know you have to qualify in the front two rows to have a chance of winning the race.
“It’s going to be an interesting qualifying.”