Van Gisbergen concerned about finale after first-lap smash
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 21 May 2023
Shane van Gisbergen is concerned about starting the finale of the Tasmania SuperSprint after an opening-lap crash in Race 11.
The action of an exciting second race of the fourth round of the 2023 Supercars Championship started on the very first lap.
Reigning champion van Gisbergen started down in 11th and found himself on the outside exiting Turn 6.
Suddenly fans were stunned to see the unusual sight of car #97 spearing off into the fence.
Much like James Courtney on Saturday, SVG was on the outside of the right hander and was sent into the tyre barrier after side-to-side contact with David Reynolds.
It sent car #97 into the tyre barrier hard and despite getting his damaged Camaro back to the pits, the Kiwi was an early retirement.
The stewards did not believe any action was required from the first-lap incident. Reynolds also pitted for repairs after cutting a tyre.
The crash is a massive blow to van Gisbergen’s championship, where he currently sits second and just 74 points away from leader Brodie Kostecki, who collected a podium finish.
After suffering his first retirement in 115 races since the second 2020 Townsville SuperSprint, van Gisbergen is worried he may not be able to front up for the third and final race at Symmons Plains, which begins at 15.50 AEST.
“It was a decent hit. I just went around the outside and someone just ran us off the track, but it happens,” he said on Fox Sports.
“I do not know (if I will start Race 12) because they are not good a being repaired these cars and it was a pretty big hit.
“But we have the best team here and hopefully they can fix it.”
2023 Tasmania SuperSprint schedule (all times AEST)
Download the full Supercars Tasmania Round 4 Event Guide with track stats and facts and a full event schedule, plus our extensive driver profiles here
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