Shane van Gisbergen will join Simon Evans as co-driver for the trio of BNT V8 SuperTourer races starting next month.
The V8 Supercars star will share the Smeg Racing Holden Commodore with Evans, the older brother of GP2 Series dynamo Mitch Evans, at Taupo, Hampton Downs and Pukekohe.
Van Gisbergen, who speared to two brilliant wins in wet conditions at the Sydney Motorsport Park V8 Supercars round last weekend, ran in the opening two seasons of the V8 SuperTourer series but did not race in the four sprint races this year.
The 25-year-old is the second V8 Supercars regular to be confirmed for the two-driver races, with Walkinshaw Racing’s Tim Slade already signed to co-drive alongside Richard Moore.
“It’s the first time I have ever been a co-driver and it is a different role,” says van Gisbergen.
“But it’s not about me this year. I have to bring the car home straight and bank the points for Simon.”
Evans is coming off a strong sprint season where he challenged the front-runners.
“Racing is all about tenths of a second and Shane will be good for a couple which will make a massive difference,” says Evans.
“If we can come out on top or there about, it will set me up with a good shot at the championship.”
The second leg of the enduro series, the Waikato 400 is scheduled for Hampton Downs from November 1-2 with the finale, the Fuchs 500 at Pukekohe from November 29-30.