THE GIZ IS IN THE VAN
Ace Kiwi driver trying to ignore the hype of last lap at Pukekohe Raceway
Shane van Gisbergen isn’t letting the hype of Pukekohe Park Raceway’s swansong get in the way of chasing his third championship title. Pukekohe is hosting its final Supercars event this weekend, and van Gisbergen’s interest in Supercars began with watching Greg Murphy see off all-comers in the early 2000s, when he won four out of the first five rounds at Pukekohe.
Murphy holds the record for most wins, with nine. Jamie Whincup has six and van Gisbergen, five.
“I’d love to get a good result but I’m trying not to get too excited. I just want to treat it like any other round,” said van Gisbergen. “I’m trying not to get too caught up in the celebrations.”
Van Gisbergen will be joined on the grid by fellow Kiwis Andre Heimgartner and Chris Pither.
All three are eyeing the Jason Richards Trophy, which goes to the round’s winner. It honours the Supercars career of the New Zealander who lost his battle with cancer in 2011.
“It’s going to be interesting and pretty sad,” said Heimgartner. “It was the place I learned how to drive a manual car and my first hot lap with my Dad.
“That’s where my passion for Supercars was ignited, watching Greg Murphy and Mark Skaife and others race; some pretty cool memories.
“I’m looking forward to the weekend. I’m feeling optimistic, and if we can line everything up, we’ll be in contention for a win.”
Van Gisbergen leads the 2022 title race with 2493 points, 500 ahead of second-placed Cam Waters, with Will Davison 19 points further back and Anton De Pasquale three points behind Davison.
If van Gisbergen claims the championship this year, he will equal the haul of Kiwi rival Scott McLaughlin. Richards, is New Zealand’s most successful V8 racer, with four titles.
Van Gisbergen is, however, the Kiwi with the most Supercars wins with 70 — trailing Whincup’s record total of 124 and 20 behind thirdplaced Skaife.
All three New Zealand drivers, van Gisbergen in particular, will have home town advantage due to the passionate crowd who will be all out cheering for Kiwi success.
The defending Supercars champion has dominated Pukekohe since
2016, winning at least one race across each weekend.
Others to keep an eye on this weekend include Waters, Davison, De Pasquale and Chaz Mostert. All four have beaten van Gisbergen this season but none can match his consistency.
Davison is the likeliest to upset the home crowd — he’s had two victories,
12 podiums and eight poles this season, and has won twice at Pukekohe in the past.
The weather is predicted to play a part this weekend. While this might dampen the mood of the crowd on the hill, it will aid van Gisbergen, acknowledged as the rain master. Rain at Pukekohe has always livened up the racing and this weekend should be no different.
Pukekohe ceases as a motorsport venue in April. Land owners Auckland Thoroughbred Racing are expanding their horse racing facilities and so are not renewing motorsport’s lease.