Race is on to get Kiwi star back

RED Bull Holden Racing Team is working on its plan to bring star driver Shane van Gisbergen back to Australia ahead of the Supercars relaunch in Sydney next month.

Van Gisbergen remains in New Zealand where he has spent the COVID-19 shutdown since the series was put on hold when the second round at Albert Park was abandoned.

Under travel restrictions, van Gisbergen would face a mandatory 14-day quarantine period in a hotel at the first port of arrival in Australia.

But Triple Eight is in dialogue with the government to see if the Kiwi ace will have to be holed up in a hotel or if he could be quarantined at his base in Queensland. The team has a five-week window to get the 2016 Supercars champion back to Australia before the return race at Sydney Motorsport Park on June 27.

“We are planning to have him back soon, we are just trying to pick a date that works to make it as easy for him and for us to carry on with our operations,” team boss Roland Dane said.

“Obviously he is going to have to undergo a 14day quarantine so we are just in the throes of seeing when and where.

“We are not sure at the moment (if that will be in a hotel). We are open to whatever they (government) tell us.

“Our priority is just to make sure he can keep E-racing (in Supercars’ Eseries) wherever he is.”

Supercars has announced a revamped calendar for its rebooted season, which includes the Townsville 400 on August 29-31.

Rebecca Williams