MOTORSPORT: SvG wins in Sydney, confirms NASCAR switch
Supercars champ claims fourth win for season at SMP, then drops career switch bombshellSupercars champ claims fourth win for season at SMP, then drops career switch bombshell
Three-times Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen won the Sunday race from the Sydney SuperNight at Sydney Motorsport Park, before announcing his intentions to switch to NASCAR next season.
After winning on his NASCAR debut in Chicago earlier this month, the rumour mill has connected the Kiwi with a North American move, which was strengthened by the subsequent announcement of a second race start on the Indianapolis Road Course on August 13.
Armed with a new Red Bull Ampol Chevrolet Camaro chassis for Sydney, van Gisbergen claimed the fourth win of his season to date, closing to within 54 points of the championship lead, before revealing his NASCAR intentions in the post-race press conference.
“There’s a lot happening in the background,” said van Gisbergen.
“I’m not leaving because of this team.
“I love this team, and when I leave I want to make sure there is someone here to replace me that’s going to do a good job in the car.
“You don’t want to leave the team with nothing, scrambling to find someone, there are a lot of the good drivers here [already] signed up.
“I don’t have a timeline on it … I don’t know if I’ll be full-time.”
Further pressed, it appears that he will follow a similar path to other international NASCAR converts like Marcos Ambrose and Juan Montoya, both of whom eased their way into the top-flight Cup Series.
Licencing issues from the sanctioning body are also likely to play a part in his oval racing transition.
Earlier in the weekend, SvG was at the centre of attention at the finish of the Saturday race, when he was penalised 5sec post-race for a contentious bump and run on the Coca-Cola Camaro of Will Brown, which ultimately relegated him off the podium.
That longer Saturday night race, held in warm conditions in front of a strong crowd, featured mixed tyre strategies and some spicy racing to the chequered flag following a late-race safety car.
That interruption was caused by the Penrite Mustang of David Reynolds, who suffered a mechanical failure and a hefty 38G impact.
Brodie Kostecki (Coca-Cola Chevrolet), who will be joining van Gisbergen in NASCAR on the Indy Road Course, held on to claim the win from Chaz Mostert (Mobil 1 Optus Ford) and Brown, while Cameron Waters also received a 5sec penalty for impeding the pit stop of Broc Feeney (Red Bull Ampol Chevrolet).
Sunday’s encounter was much more straightforward, with van Gisbergen winning from Andre Heimgartner (R&J Batteries Chevrolet), who claimed the Saturday pole and was in the mix in that race until the safety car forced him to pit again, while Anton De Pasquale (Shell V-Power Ford) was the best placed Mustang in third.
Next up for the Supercars Championship is the OTR SuperSprint at The Bend Motorsport Park from August 18-20.
Australian Supercars Sydney Motorsport Park results:
Race 1 – 51 laps
- Brodie Kostecki, Coca-Cola Camaro
- Chaz Mostert, Mobil 1 Optus Mustang
- Will Brown, Coca-Cola Camaro
- Jack Le Brocq, Truck Assist Camaro
- Cameron Waters, Monster Mustang
- Tim Slade, Nulon Camaro
- Shane van Gisbergen, Red Bull Ampol Camaro
- Bryce Fullwood, Middy’s Camaro
- Mark Winterbottom, DeWalt Camaro
- Scott Pye, Hino Camaro
Race 2 – 36 laps
- Shane van Gisbergen
- Andre Heimgartner, R&J Batteries Camaro
- Anton De Pasquale, Shell V-Power Mustang
- Broc Feeney, Red Bull Ampol Camaro
- Bryce Fullwood
- Cameron Waters
- Chaz Mostert
- Brodie Kostecki
- Mark Winterbottom
- Jack Le Brocq
Championship points:
- Brodie Kostecki – 1590
- Will Brown – 1549
- Shane van Gisbergen – 1536
- Broc Feeney – 1523
- Chaz Mostert – 1348
- Andre Heimgartner – 1308
- Cameron Waters – 1261
- Jack Le Brocq – 1159
- Bryce Fullwood – 1076
- Mark Winterbottom – 1056
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