Ruthless SVG powers to Townsville win

Fraser Barton | July 9, 2022

Reigning Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen has delivered a masterclass on his way to a ninth career win in Townsville, hunting down Will Davison in the dying stages to secure victory.

It was a special victory for the 33-year-old Red Bull Ampol driver, storming home at Reid Park in front of his father who attended his first race in years.

Starting on pole, van Gisbergen was slow off the mark as Davison got the jump down the straight before the pair battled throughout Saturday’s 250km race as teams navigated when to deploy their super soft compound tyres.

Davison and 2021 Bathurst winner Chaz Mostert opted for an undercut with over 35 laps to go, switching to the super softs with hopes they’d have enough life to hold on as Van Gisbergen stopped late.

But then came the raging Red Bull.

The New Zealander, chasing his 10th win of the season, hunted down Tim Slade, Mostert then Davison with five laps remaining. His rampaging victory earning the Triple Eight Racing team their 21st win in Townsville.

“We were really pushing hard and I guess the offset in the tyres is what won us the race. But otherwise, we’re pretty evenly matched,” van Gisbergen said of his late push.

It all came down to strategy after Slade and David Reynolds started the race on the super soft compounds, powering to them to the front before making the switch to harder compound tyres after 30 laps.

Most teams took notice, as Slade’s pace rapidly died off in the final stages but the CoolDrive Auto Parts driver still mustered eighth position.

In the Red Bull camp, Van Gisbergen’s team pumped his car full of fuel on lap 31, limiting its speed and manoeuvrability but giving the championship leader a short window late to have a quick second compulsory pit stop.

Re-entering the field with 25 laps remaining, the Kiwi made quick work of Slade before finding Mostert in his sights. Then with 12 laps to go, he easily passed him to set up a cracking finish.

With five to go Davison and van Gisbergen entered the slowest and final corner of the circuit, with the Kiwi snatching the lead and cruising home for his fourth win from his last six starts in Townsville.

“These short corners, they really suit us,” van Gisbergen said.

“The team has always always been very good at preparing a car here and a car that can attack the curbs for 250k.

“We’re full gas every lap – the team does an awesome job.”

RACE 19 RESULTS:

1. Shane Van Gisbergen (Red Bull Ampol Racing)

2. Will Davison (Shell V-Power Racing) +5.196

3. Cameron Waters (Monster Energy Racing) +20.489

4. Andre Heimgartner (Brad Jones Racing) +21.085

5. Scott Pye (Nulon Racing) +29.910

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:

1. Shane van Gisbergen (Red Bull Ampol Racing) 1731 pts

2. Anton De Pasquale (Shell V-Power Racing) 1469 pts