SvG Returns

SIM king Shane van Gisbergen has become a global eRacing sensation as he keeps sharp for his return to the reality of Supercars competition in Sydney.

His extended stay in New Zealand, now ended as he serves a 14-day quarantine at his house on the Gold Coast, allowed him to focus on eRacing and fitness at his father’s home outside Auckland.

He has now added a victory in World Rallycross and success in IMSA sports cars to his pace-setting performance in the BP Supercars All Stars Eseries.

He drove a Porsche RSR to second in the IMSA event, after 50 laps on the virtual Virginia International Raceway, after starting from fifth on the grid. His victims included Porsche works driver Laurens Vanthoor, the reigning IMSA champion, who was also driving a 911 RSR.

SvG swept his qualifying races in the World RX Esports Series despite rivals including Ferrari F1 racer Charles Leclerc and most of the real-world RX regulars led by Timmy Hansen, who was runner-up in the final. Even Scott Pye was in the field.

“It’s really awesome to do this racing. That was so much fun, racing with all those guys,” says van Gisbergen.

“There were a bunch of my friends from circuit racing but also on our chat we had the Hansen brothers and racing with them, and getting tips when to joker and things like that, was great.

“We were all pretty fast and had some really cool racing and also having Charles Leclerc racing was really cool.

“It was so fun to be a part of, I’m getting better and hopefully I can come back for the next races if the schedule allows and have a good time.”

He also has the Supercars All Stars wrap before returning to action with the Red Bull Holden Racing Team at Sydney Motorsport Park, where team boss Roland Dane expects him to be as competitive as always.

Dane reports that van Gisbergen has lost weight and remained focussed despite his isolation in NZ.

“He’s as fit as I can remember him being,” Dane tells Race News.

“It’s all good. He’s done a great job keeping that up and of course being able to quarantine at home under the watchful eye of Dr Bill Anseline then means he can maintain that level of fitness.”

SvG will be cleared from quarantine on Friday, June 12, well in time to travel to SMP.