SVG ventures into Asia

SUPERCARS star Shane van Gisbergen will spearhead Triple Eight Race Engineering’s first overseas foray.

The Red Bull Holden Racing Team ace will be one of three drivers for Triple Eight’s full-time GT debut in the Blancpain GT World Challenge-Asia Series starting next month. It’s the first time the hugely successful Australian team has raced overseas after its 2003 entry into the Supercars championship.

Van Gisbergen will share professional duties in the team with Malaysian driver Jazeman Jaafar, while Johor royal family member Prince Jefri Ibrahim will compete as an amateur driver.

The New Zealander will race in three of the six events alongside his Supercars commitments.

“It’s really exciting that Roland [Dane, team owner] and Triple Eight are expanding into Asia and GT racing,” van Gisbergen said.

“Of course, my focus is still going to be fully on our Supercars campaign and making sure I’m giving myself and the team the best opportunity to win races, but .... I think we’ve got a great platform in the Mercedes GT3 car. It seems to be an all-rounder that suits most types of tracks.”

Since bringing the Triple Eight brand to Australia, Dane has overseen the team’s rise to become the dominant force in Supercars.

“GT racing is something I’ve been looking at for a few years now and our two campaigns in the Bathurst 12 Hour have cemented in my mind that it’s something I want Triple Eight to be involved in on a longer-term basis,” Dane said yesterday.