Sydney – Van Gisbergen wins at season opener

The reigning champion did not miss his entry into contention in Sydney this Saturday. Shane van Gisbergen (Triple Eight) became the first winner of the 2022 Supercars season after a great strategic battle with Anton de Pasquale (Dick Johnson Racing).

However, business had not started well for the double champion who saw the DJR driver sign an 8^e pole position in the last 12 qualifying sessions contested at Sydney Motorsport Park.

In the race, the situation repeated itself and Shane van Gisbergen seemed powerless against the Ford Mustang of Anton de Pasquale and therefore had to concentrate on Will Brown (Erebus Motorsport) very present in his mirrors but also on Andre Heimgartner (Brad Jones Racing) unleashed with his super soft tires which allowed him to get rid of the leading trio at the start of 8^e turn.

Heimgartner on Super Softs, De Pasquale on Softs.

Let the battle begin! #RepcoSC pic.twitter.com/aLZj08Ij1R

— Supercars (@supercars) March 5, 2022

Faced with this situation, Gisby decided to stop at 20^e passage to put on super soft while Anton de Pasquale remained on the track until the 24th^e round. A strategy that paid off for the reigning champion who took control of the race for the first time. Well helped by the battle between Will Brown and the Dick Johnson Racing driver, SvG quickly relegated his two opponents to 8"8 before increasing his lead to 11"3 at 41^e of the 77 laps of this inaugural round.

Easily installed in the lead, Shane van Gisbergen was then able to carry out his second refueling in complete peace at the end of the 42^e loop leaving the reins to Anton de Pasquale while he emerged 22 seconds behind him. A choice which then allowed him to offer himself a 3^e pit-stop 21 laps later thus shifting his strategy to his rival who had stopped at 52^e passage.

Coming out 9" behind provisional leader Will Brown after his final stop, Shane van Gisbergen was going to fly over the end of the race thanks to his fresh tires. If Anton de Pasquale took the lead again 2 laps from the checkerboard, SvG made short work of the DJR driver a loop later to fly to his first victory of the year, the 10^e of his career, on the day of his 450^e departure in Supercars.

We have a change for the leader of the race!

SVG has renewed the lead with an incredible final stint! #RepcoSC pic.twitter.com/aPi1rk6DjH

— Supercars (@supercars) March 5, 2022

Ultimately powerless against the last champion, Anton de Pasquale crossed the line with a delay of almost 20 seconds while an opportunistic Chaz Mostert (Walkinshaw Andretti United) took the podium.

Top 10 of the first race of the season.

The complete ranking.

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