Shane van Gisbergen’s first V8 Supercars race win is just around the corner, says his team boss Ross Stone.
While no one looks like touching TeamVodafone’s Jamie Whincup after three races, van Gisbergen has been one of the revelations of the 2010 season, scoring his first podium result at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit last weekend and currently sits fourth in the V8 Championship (after three races).
The New Zealand ace may only be 20-years-old, but in his third full year of V8 Supercars racing, Stone says that Van Giz is a genuine race-winning prospect.
“It’s going to need all the stars to align for that to happen, but I personally don’t think we’re too far away,” Stone told Speedcafe.com.au.
“The team is going really well. Shane has that little bit more experience now, and he’s absolutely got the right attitude, and there’s some really good chemistry with everyone in the team. We’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing and it will come.”
Stone said that at the team’s pre-season launch, he made his intentions clear to all of Stone Brothers Racing’s associates.
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“Earlier in the year, we had a sponsors night at our shop, and I said that we need to step up this year, and I think all the things that we planned in the off season are working,” he said.
“I said to that group that if we get Shane in the top five in the championship this year, he’ll be a genuine championship contender, certainly for 2011.
“He’s still only young – he’s 21 in May – so there’s still plenty of time. He’s got a good level of experience in these cars now.”
While confidence in high in the the SP Tools/van Gisbergen camp, he had his worst qualifying performance at Bahrain this morning for Race 4 and will start the event from 14th position.
Race 4 gets underway at 3.35pm Bahraini time.
