VAN GISBERGEN STARTS ASCENT AT THE DOUBLE
SHANE van Gisbergen went back-toback at Bathurst to become Scott McLaughlin’s heir apparent with the Holden hero’s bid to become the V8 king beginning with a double.
In a rare season start at Mount Panorama after Bathurst replaced the Adelaide 500 with a sprint round, van Gisbergen won both 250km races to put one hand on the Supercars throne that McLaughlin vacated when he moved to America to become an IndyCar driver.
“That drive was a big, big statement,” V8 legend Mark Skaife said of van Gisbergen. “He is a contender for sure.”
Already a series champion after winning the title in 2016, the Red Bull Ampol Racing Team driver roared around Mount Panorama.
“It is a great way to start the year,” van Gisbergen said.
“We are starting again and we just have to keep on chipping away and not making mistakes is the key.”
Fresh from blitzing the field to win the first race of the year on Saturday, the Holden driver set himself up perfectly for race two by edging out Cameron Waters and Anton De Pasquale in a dramatic Top-10 shootout.
Waters outdragged van Gisbergen off the start line before a lap-16 pit stop gave the Kiwi a winning edge.
“That battle in the middle stint was insane and it was so cool to have such a good car that I ended up getting in some clean air,” van Gisbergen said.
After a power steering problem cost him his race-winning chance on Saturday, Waters confirmed he was a 2021 contender by following van Gisbergen home to take second.
Chaz Mostert was third ahead of De Pasquale.
McLaughlin’s replacement at Dick Johnson Racing, De Pasquale made a mistake in both races.