A year on from what he describes as the worst weekend of his racing career, Shane van Gisbergen was in fine form as he stormed to victory in Sydney.
Van Gisbergen failed to finish either race at the Olympic Park venue in 2012 during his final weekend with Stone Brothers Racing.
Billed as his farewell event before a hiatus from the sport, Van Gisbergen created a major stir by returning to the championship with Tekno Autosports this season.
Although having to deal with significant fan backlash and a Court battle over the move, the Kiwi has flourished this year racing regularly on both sides of the Tasman.
Victory in Sydney elevated Van Gisbergen to fifth in the final V8 Supercars Championship standings; his third top six in as many seasons.
“I said on the radio on the last lap that this time last year was the worse day racing I’ve ever had and today it was the opposite,” he reflected after charging through from fourth to first in the final 20 laps of Race 36.
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“It’s been amazing. I copped a lot of shit at the start of the year but I’m here racing and that’s what I love to do.
“Racing the SuperTourers and drifting in New Zealand, all that stuff that I’ve never been allowed to do… it’s the best thing ever.”
The 24-year-old’s V8 Supercars, V8 SuperTourer and drifting programs have now yielded six podiums in six weekends.
“Yesterday I didn’t actually count that podium, but this time I will,” he said, having clashed with Fabian Coulthard late in Saturday’s race on his way to third.
“I’m going drifting again next week and I’ll try and make it seven. I’m just loving going racing and every time I get in the car, no matter what it is, just pushing to the limits.”
Although it is still in discussions with Racing Entitlements Contract holders about running a second car, Tekno is expected to field just a single entry next year, with team-mate and team owner Jonathon Webb stepping back from full-time driving.
Regardless of the structure, Van Gisbergen is confident that he’ll have the package required to challenge for the title next season.
“I think so; I think we have the car to do it,” he said of fighting for a maiden crown in his seventh full-time V8 Supercars season.
“A few times this year I’ve made mistakes or we’ve had strategy blunders, but we’ve had a pretty fast car all around.
“Next year if we can get a few updates from ‘uncle Roland’ (Dane, Triple Eight team owner) we might be able to challenge.”
