SVG to make local NZ circuit return 

Shane van Gisbergen is one of this year’s everywhere men, and that continues with his return to local circuit racing in NZ driving the rare Brabham BT62.

Van Gisbergen will take to the South Island Endurance Series at Ruapuna on September 8-9, partnering Dwayne Carter in a 3 hour enduro for Carters Tyres Motorsport.

The recent NASCAR winner will race in rounds 1 and 3 of the enduro championship, whilst he’ll sit out Round 2 due to his commitments in the returning Daybreaker Rally on September 22-23 on the North Island. Round 3 will be at Levels Raceway in Timaru on October 13-14.

The car itself is a thing of beauty: a mid-engined 5387cc, dry-sumped, quad cam V8 Brabham BT62, that was the first hyper car made in Australia, built in Adelaide by the Brabham Automotive team, with only 70 being made.

SVG will once again team up with Carter to race the race Brabham BT62 in the South Island Endurance Series. Image: Carter Tyres Motorsports

Carter finished down the rear of the table in 2022 owing to several DNF’s in the stunning 5.4L naturally aspirated V8 BT62, and he’ll be hoping SVG addition for two rounds can propel the Carter Tyres Motorsport team back up the table.

The pair tasted success together in 2013, winning the 3 Hour at Highlands in a Ford Falcon BF.

For SVG, it’s the first time on an NZ circuit since his Supercars Pukekohe visit, but it will be his first local circuit event since he raced in the open wheel 2021 Toyota Racing Series, which was a forced local field owing to the Pandemic (he won three races at Hampton Downs).

The Brabham BT62 was the first hyper car made on Australian shores. Image: Carter Tyres Motorsport

SVG recently finished 10th in his second NASCAR Cup Series race for Trackhouse Racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, as well as partaking in his first oval race in the NASCAR Truck Series where he finished in 19th racing for Niece Motorsports.

This weekend he heads to The Bend to race in the OTR SuperSprint, where he’ll be aiming to haul in Kostecki and Brown, and perhaps leave Supercars as a four-time champion.

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This week Nascar was the focus with SVG and Brodie Kostecki making their way to the Indy road course, while Rodney Jane let some loose on the Thunderdome at Calder, while we also preview The Bend as the Supercars silly season hots up.

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