RACER VAN GISBERGEN TO EMULATE MOTOGP GREAT ROSSI
Shane van Gisbergen will follow MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi’s lead by switching codes to make his Rally New Zealand debut, his home round of the World championship.
The double Australian Supercars champion has signed up for the WRC2 category for what will be his first international rally and his fifth in total.
Australia-based Race Torque will prepare his Skoda Fabia
R5, while Glen Watson, an Australian champion, will co-drive.
“I’ve been around [rallying] a long time and going to all the rallies when I was young watching Rally New Zealand,” said 33-year-old van Gisbergen, who regularly spectated on rallies with his father. “It has always been a dream to do it but I’ve never really had the chance.
“I need to get used to pacenotes, how to read the New Zealand roads and just get better. Pacenotes are where most of the speed is for me.
“I do not have any expectations for results. For me just competing in the event is going to be epic, to see the stages packed with fans, and having the service park on the Auckland waterfront, it is just going to be an awesome event. I just want to do a good job and keep it straight, be there at the end and be part of this incredible event. For me it’s cool that I will be on the other side of the fence.”
Italian Rossi drove a 2005-specification Prodriverun Subaru Impreza S11 WRC to 11th overall on Rally New Zealand in 2006.