Van Gisbergen does the treble in Tasmania
Shane van Gisbergen was in a league of his own at Symmons Plains on his way to a clean sweep in the Tasmania Supersprint. The Triple Eight Holden star put on a passing masterclass across the weekend, all three wins involving on-track moves to get to the front.
For Saturday afternoon’s opener, van Gisbergen started back in fifth before working his way to the front during the first stint. His signature move was to jam the door of his rival on the inside of the hairpin to get the right line through the back sweeper and into Turn 6. Cam Waters was particularly unimpressed with the tactic as he and van Gisbergen fought over the lead, the Tickford Ford ace flipping the bird to the Red Bull Holden pilot as he charged past.
Sunday’s second race was by far the easiest for van Gisbergen, who battled with new team-mate Broc Feeney. The teenager led twice, but put up little fight each time van Gisbergen came looking to get past.
Still, second place marked Feeney’s first podium finish in the series.
For the final race van Gisbergen had to overcome Will Davison. Unsurprisingly, he did this early in the race at Turn 6. Once in front, the Kiwi just had to clear the undercut attempt from Davison’s Dick Johnson Racing Ford squad to secure the treble.
The title fight has now swung heavily in van Gisbergen’s favour. He leads by 67 points over Anton De Pasquale, with Davison third. A tough weekend for former series leader Chaz Mostert dropped him to fourth in the standings, 145 points behind.