Heimgartner really happy with NZGP podium Repco Supercars Championship By James Pavey, Pics by John Cowpland
Andre Heimgartner says he was really happy with second in Sunday s New Zealand Grand Prix ahead of a fourth Supercars campaign with Kelly Grove Racing.
It was a topsy turvy weekend for Heimgartner, who rose from eighth on the grid to the podium for the grand prix.
The 25-year-old failed to finish Race 2 earlier on Sunday following an incident with Brendon Leitch.
Heimgartner clashed with four-time Bathurst 1000 winner Greg Murphy earlier in Race 2, before the Leitch contact at the Turn 2 hairpin ended his hopes.
Picture Bruce Jenkins
Shane
van Gisbergen continued his 100% record at the New Zealand
Grand Prix meeting with victory in the second race of the
Castrol Toyota Racing Series.
It was no easy task for
the V8 Supercar racer, however, as rival Chris van der Drift
pressured him throughout.
After starting from pole
position, he made a much better getaway at the lights and
beat fellow front row sitter Chris van der Drift in the drag
race to the first turn. Second row sitter Ngatoa got a poor
start and dropped back outside of the top five while Matthew
continued his impressive rookie form with another good
Motorsport: Shane van Gisbergen wins New Zealand Grand Prix from last
24 Jan, 2021 07:45 AM
3 minutes to read
Eric Thompson is a motorsport writer for NZME
Shane van Gisbergen put on an extraordinary exhibition to take out the 66th New Zealand Grand Prix delivering a show not seen in the Toyota Racing Series since its 2005 inception.
Van Gisbergen started dead last from pit lane but took the chequered flag at the end of 28 laps from Andre Heimgartner and Matthew Payne.
Van Gisbergen didn t make it out of pit lane for the formation lap due to his fire extinguisher going off in the car. The resulting penalty meant the Supercars star had to start from pit lane.
Pit lane to P1: SVG clinches stunning NZGP win Repco Supercars Championship By James Pavey, Pics by John Cowpland
Shane van Gisbergen has claimed a remarkable New Zealand Grand Prix victory after starting from pit lane.
It marks the Supercars star’s first win in the marquee race, with van Gisbergen winning both curtain raiser races.
The Kiwi was favourite for the 66th running of the grand prix, which was held at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park.
He backed up his Race 1 win on Saturday with victory in the morning Race 2, leading from pole position.
As it was on Saturday, Race 2 saw the battle for the win fought between van Gisbergen and countryman Chris van der Drift.
Shane Van Gisbergen delivered the greatest performance in New Zealand Grand Prix history. Picture Tayler Burke
In extraordinary times, an extraordinary driver produced an extraordinary drive to win the 66th New Zealand Grand Prix and put his name alongside the sport’s greatest drivers.
Shane van Gisbergen left a sell-out crowd at Hampton Downs breathless after producing an historic performance that re-wrote the Castrol Toyota Racing Series and Grand Prix records.
After setting the fire extinguisher off in his car before the start, Shane missed the pit lane window to exit and was forced to start from the pit lane after his team completed a hasty cleaning out of his car, his overalls, his boots and a replacement fire extinguisher.