Van Gisbergen’s perfect form

Shane van Gisbergen has maintained his perfect start to the Supercars season and become the first driver in more than 16 years to win the opening five races of a campaign.

The Kiwi driver’s hat-trick of victories at the Sandown Supersprint came just two weeks after he needed surgery on a broken collarbone following a mountain biking accident.

He secured maximum points at Melbourne when he triumphed in the weekend’s final race, which was his 45th career win and his fifth from as many starts this season – a feat last achieved by Mark Skaife in 1994.

Van Gisbergen says his run of success, which extends to six straight victories after clinching the Bathurst 1000 at the end of the 2020 season, is “unreal”. 

“This weekend is honestly a dream result which probably no one thought was going to happen, including myself,” he adds.

“I've got to thank the team so much. The car's been awesome and everyone's been helping me through the last two weeks.

“I just hoped I'd be okay [after the surgery], yeah I'm hurting but it was fine.”

Van Gisbergen had to draw on all his skills in the opening race of the March 20-21 meeting after starting 17th on the grid.

The Red Bull Ampol Racing driver’s victory smashed a 56-year-old record for the lowest starting position to take the chequered flag at the Melbourne track.

Winning the next two races of the weekend was more straight forward and he now leads the drivers’ championship by 150 points.

The next round of action is at Symons Plains Raceway in Launceston, Tasmania, on April 10 and 11.

Championship standings

Shane van Gisbergen, Red Bull Ampol Racing, 605pts
Jamie Whincup, Red Bull Ampol Racing, 455pts
Chaz Mostert, Appliances Online Racing, 442pts
Cameron Waters, Monster Energy Racing, 435pts
Mark Winterbottom, IRWIN Racing, 411pts