New victory for van Gisbergen

What if the 2016 champion was back? Looking at the results, everything suggests yes. In Bathurst for the first meeting of the year, Shane van Gisbergen could not have dreamed of a better way to launch his 2021 campaign.

Already winner of the first race at Mount Panorama on Saturday, the Triple Eight resident did it again this Sunday.

First on the grid, Shane van Gisbergen did not achieve the best start and was beaten by Cameron Waters (Tickford Racing). No rush, the 2016 champion does not panic and stays behind.

As is often the case, the pit stop strategy was going to be very important. She was. Called to refuel on the 14th lap, Shane van Gisbergen let Cameron Waters take off before he made his pit stop one lap later.

A gamble that paid off as he benefited from warmer tires, the Triple Eight man got rid of his rival just after the first turn. The rest was just a long, quiet river to the finish line to secure his second victory of the season ahead of Cameron Waters and Chaz Mostert (Walkinshaw Andretti United). A good omen for the future.

With 300 points in the championship, Shane van Gisbergen is 33 lengths ahead of Chaz Mostert and 69 ahead of Mark Winterbottom (Team 18), respectively fourth and fifth in the two weekend meetings.