Van Gisbergen proves his class in relentless display

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Despite all the new challenges Gen3 presented to Supercars, Shane van Gisbergen remained the class of the field by a long way.

Van Gisbergen started sixth, but still obliterated all comers to cruise to a 14.7s win ahead of Broc Feeney in a Triple Eight Race Engineering 1-2 finish.

The win followed a familiar pattern and was orchestrated by a superb second stint, where car #97 was the fastest in the field and went laps longer than his rivals to emerge from the final round of stops well in front.

The opening race of the Gen3 era had a lot of similarities to the first Car of the Future spec contest in Adelaide 10 years ago.

Both were Safety Car free with a Triple Eight Race Engineering car cruising to victory lane.

Van Gisbergen became the first driver to win with the Chevrolet badge since Kevin Bartlett’s win at Oran Park in 1982, 989 races ago.

The Kiwi is becoming an expert at winning season openers having won the last three at as many venues and said the 1-2 was tribute to his hard-working squad, which acted as Supercars’ Chevrolet homologation team throughout the entire Gen3 build.

“This is huge,” van Gisbergen said after his 76th Supercars win and second at Newcastle.

“For us to get a 1-2 is pretty special. The effort the team put in not just for us, but the whole category (was massive).

“It is an awesome way to start the season after a tough race.”

Although van Gisbergen showed glimmers of pace on Friday, topping practice 2 and finishing second overall, he was far from comfortable in the #97 Camaro.

He said his “feet were on fire” touching the firewall, but with Supercars allowing the addition of heat shielding overnight, life was slightly more pleasant in cockpit despite searing temperatures in the 95-lap sprint.

In the shootout a lockup saw van Gisbergen start the opening race of the season down in sixth, but he got his elbows out straight away with a quick reaction time off the line.

The Kiwi instantly rose to fourth jumping both David Reynolds and Tim Slade before settling in behind teammate Feeney.

Having initially dropped a second back to maintain his rubber, the three-time champion unleashed a counterattack and caught Feeney unaware at Turn 7 on Lap 13.

After short-fuelling he jumped both Cameron Waters and Brodie Kostecki to gain the lead and track position after the first round of stops.

This was the key point of the race where van Gisbergen stamped his authority, being the only driver to record a 1:12s lap time during the second stint.

In addition to the express pace in clean air, he also had impressive tyre life, staying out seven laps longer than his nearest rival Waters.

The benefits of van Gisbergen’s work were there for all to see when he rejoined with a four-second lead over Feeney for the 31-lap run home.

On fresher rubber car #97 was untouchable and cruised to an ominous win.

Despite the comfortable nature of the triumph, van Gisbergen revealed it was far from a walk in the park and refused to get caught up in the emotion of the historic race, with his head firmly focussed on finishing the job on Sunday.

“I have to thank the team. I have not been comfortable in this car and the team has done everything they can to make it better for me,” he said.

“We have a few issues we have been struggling with, but most people are (as well).

“All I am thinking about now is trying to make the car better for tomorrow.”

One of the biggest storylines of the 2023 season will be how van Gisbergen enjoys driving the Gen3 machinery, which could decide whether or not he stays in the sport.

One race down and the 34-year-old refused to expand on the subject, responding “I will pass on that one.”

There was a lot of hope the heavy changes caused by Gen3 may shake up the pecking order, but the first race proved the best drivers always rise no matter what they are driving.

2023 Newcastle 500 schedule

Friday, March 10

Practice 1 – 1: A. Heimgartner 1:11.9958 2: W. Brown +0.1813 3: D. Reynolds +0.2021

Practice 2 – 1: S. van Gisbergen 1:11.7555 2: W. Davison +0.0374 3: B. Feeney +0.1167

Practice 3 – 1 Brodie Kostecki 1:11.4068; 2 Shane van Gisbergen +0.0557; 3 Chaz Mostert +0.0760

Saturday, March 11

Qualifying 1 – 1: Kostecki 1:11.131. 2: Mostert 1:11.358 3: VanGisbergen 1:11.435

Top 10 Shootout – 1: Kostecki 1:11.8481 2: Waters +0.1520 3: Feeney +0.1527

Race 1 (95 laps) – 1: Van Gisbergen 2: Feeney +14.740 3: Waters +19.746

Sunday, March 12

Qualifying – 11.15-11.35

Top 10 Shootout – 12.35-13.00

Race 2 (95 laps) 15.20-17.20

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