SVG LOOKING FORWARD TO LE MANS CHALLENGE

Shane van Gisbergen makes his Le Mans debut this year – the Supercars Championship leader is very much going into the unknown with a new track and new car.

The New Zealander will race a Ferrari 488 in the LMGTE Pro class for American outfit Riley Motorsports.

Van Gisbergen, teamed with former factory Ferrari driver Sam Bird and DTM driver Felipe Fraga, will be the sole privately run team against the factory operations.

Nevertheless, SVG is optimistic of competing strongly in the 488.

“We’re up against it, but Riley Autosport are a great, great team,” van Gisbergen said to AUTO ACTION.

“I drove for them in 2017 (at Daytona); they’re an awesome bunch of guys and a proper race team.

“It’s not often you get to race in that class, and not be a factory driver, to get the opportunity to race in the Pro class with a private entry … it’s pretty cool.

“It’s certainly going to be tough, but the GTE cars are all pretty similar – hopefully we’ll be okay.”

Riley Motorsport is a team that competes in the IMSA Sportscar Championship and therefore has vast experience in long distance racing.

For van Gisbergen he has not raced in a 24-Hour race for some time and explained the unique challenges it poses.

“Obviously the GT cars are the slowest class – the prototypes are just so quick,” he said to AA.

“You’re looking out the rear mirror or the rear camera, all the time trying to work out what’s coming and there’s an art to letting the Prototypes go without losing too much time.

“It’s something I haven’t done for a little bit; it’s going to take a bit to get used to. The Hypercars, even though there’s not many of them, look like they accelerate so fast with the hybrid and the four-wheel drive, it’s going be a cool experience.”

At the Le Mans test day van Gisbergen found himself fifth in class, with qualifying set to take place tonight on Stan Sport.

For more thoughts and views from SVG and Australian LMP2 competitor James Allen, read our full Le Mans 24 Hours preview in the current edition of Auto Action on sale at your local newsagent or digitally in the link below.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action.