Motorsport: Kiwi dominance to continue with SVG

Shane Van Gisbergen during the ITM Auckland SuperSprint. Photo / Getty Images

They haven't touched the Bledisloe Cup trophy since 2002, they don't even hold the Chappell-Hadlee cricket trophy and now Australia is only four days away from losing the Supercars championship to New Zealand.

That's right, in yet another blow for everyone that loves green and gold, Holden driver Shane Van Gisbergen will end Australia's 25-year stranglehold on the V8 championship trophy to become the first Kiwi to win the title since Jim Richards in 1991.

And that is only the beginning of the pain for Aussie Supercars fans with New Zealand legend Greg Murphy predicting Van Gisbergen will spearhead a new era of Kiwi dominance that could last a decade.

"It's not just Shane Van Gisbergen," Murphy said.

"He is obviously the right guy in the right team right now but we also have Scott McLaughlin and Fabian Coulthard who will challenge for titles."

Van Gisbergen will become just the third Kiwi driver to win an Australian Touring car title this weekend if he survives an unlikely all or nothing bid from Red Bull Racing Australia teammate Jamie Whincup on the streets of Sydney.

Heading into the season-ending Sydney 500, which will begin on the streets of Sydney Olympic Park with practice on Friday, the new kid on the Red Bull block leads by 191 points and is guaranteed to lock up the title on Saturday if he finishes fifth or better.

And this is just the beginning for the driver they call the "Wild Thing" with four-time Bathurst champion Murphy declaring he is already a great.

Murphy said the soon to be champion was already a household name in New Zealand and arguably the country's best sporting export after the All Blacks.

"He has done everything to put himself on the radar," Murphy said.

"Him, Scott and Fabian are already well known in New Zealand. They follow the sport religiously and he is a genuine sporting identity back home and winning the championship will just cement that.

"We have had Kiwis competing in this sport forever and a day. And we haven't won a title since 1991. This is going to mean a lot to our nation. This will be huge for Kiwi sports freaks all over."

Yep, the "Gis" is set to be a big deal in New Zealand. He may become the most famous non-rugby player in New Zealand who hasn't scaled Mt Everest.

"I personally believe the New Zealand government needs to give motorsport more recognition for the amount of Kiwis that are performing around the world," Murphy said.

"We have a Le Mans winner, LMP1 stars, an Indy Star and soon a Supercars champion. I think it proves motorsport should get a bit more money back home."

Fellow Kiwis Andre Heimgartner and Chris Pither will also race this weekend at the last Sydney 500.