Supercars Bathurst II

Van Gisbergen: Title boosts Bathurst 1000 chances

Shane van Gisbergen says he can have a proper crack at defending his Bathurst 1000 crown now the Supercars titles has been squared away.

Andrew van Leeuwen

Edited: Nov 23, 2021, 10:27 AM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Shane van Gisbergen, Triple Eight Race Engineering

The Kiwi wrapped up the 2021 title with a round to spare in Sydney last weekend, the Sunday wash-out leaving his 349-point lead unassailable heading to the season-closing Bathurst 1000.

Reflecting on the ramifications of having the title sewn up early, van Gisbergen reckons it's a big boost for he and Garth Tander's Bathurst 1000 hopes.

He says the pair can now run a more aggressive strategy aimed at a second straight Bathurst crown, rather than needing to be conservative to bank enough points for the title.

"None, anymore," said van Gisbergen when asked about the pressure of Bathurst.

"It's good, I can relax about it now. I can have a couple days to let this soak in and then focus on Bathurst.

"I think the most relieved guy is Garth. It's tough for the co-drivers, they haven't done enough miles, any of them. For him to just go and do his own prep and build up as he goes... even in the race he can get more comfortable and focus on winning.

"For us, we're not going to have to strategise around staying out of trouble. We are going there purely for the race win with both cars.

"It will be more intense, probably, going for the win. But it will be more enjoyable."

Van Gisbergen and Tander will head to the Mountain as one of the outright favourites.

Teammates Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes will also be in the hunt at what will be Whincup's farewell as a full-time driver.

The group of pre-race favourites will also include in-form Anton De Pasquale and co-driver Tony D'Alberto, while Cam Waters was the pacesetter at last year's Great Race.

The Bathurst 1000 week kicks off on November 30 with the race itself on December 5.

2021 Bathurst 1000 entry list

Team Primary Driver Co-driver Car Dick Johnson Racing Anton De Pasquale Tony D’Alberto Ford Mustang GT Dick Johnson Racing Will Davison Alex Davison Ford Mustang GT Triple Eight Race Engineering Jamie Whincup Craig Lowndes Holden ZB Commodore Triple Eight Race Engineering Shane van Gisbergen Garth Tander Holden ZB Commodore Triple Eight Race Engineering Broc Feeney Russell Ingall Holden ZB Commodore Tickford Racing Jack Le Brocq Zak Best Ford Mustang GT Tickford Racing Cam Waters James Moffat Ford Mustang GT Tickford Racing James Courtney Thomas Randle Ford Mustang GT Blanchard Racing Team Tim Slade Tim Blanchard Ford Mustang GT Erebus Motorsport Will Brown Jack Perkins Holden ZB Commodore Erebus Motorsport Brodie Kostecki David Russell Holden ZB Commodore Team 18 Mark Winterbottom Michael Caruso Holden ZB Commodore Team 18 Scott Pye James Golding Holden ZB Commodore Walkinshaw Andretti United Bryce Fullwood Warren Luff Holden ZB Commodore Walkinshaw Andretti United Chaz Mostert Lee Holdsworth Holden ZB Commodore Brad Jones Racing Jack Smith David Wall Holden ZB Commodore Brad Jones Racing Nick Percat Dale Wood Holden ZB Commodore Brad Jones Racing Todd Hazelwood Dean Fiore Holden ZB Commodore Brad Jones Racing Macauley Jones Chris Pither Holden ZB Commodore Kelly Grove Racing Andre Heimgartner Matt Campbell Ford Mustang GT Kelly Grove Racing David Reynolds Luke Youlden Ford Mustang GT Team Sydney Fabian Coulthard Jonathon Webb Holden ZB Commodore Team Sydney Garry Jacobson Dylan O’Keeffe Holden ZB Commodore Matt Stone Racing Jake Kostecki Kurt Kostecki Holden ZB Commodore Matt Stone Racing Zane Goddard Jayden Ojeda Holden ZB Commodore

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Why Supercars doesn't use a full wet tyre

Next article Sydney Supercars cancellation explained

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Qatar GP

9 min

Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac

With rallying back in the spotlight, it could probably teach F1 a thing or two

Formula 1

With rallying back in the spotlight, it could probably teach F1 a thing or two

You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller

MotoGP

Qatar GP

You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller

Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario

WEC

WEC WEC

Monza

4 h

Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts