KEY POINTS:
Earlier this year young Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen was given the prize number nine seat at Stone Brothers Racing. It raised a few eyebrows.
The Australia-based team, run by patriotic New Zealanders Ross and Jimmy Stone, has had its faith in Van Gisbergen rewarded with an overall fifth
at the opening round in Adelaide.
Heading to the Hamilton 400 Van Gisbergen is the third best placed Kiwi driver, in 13th behind Jason Richards and Greg Murphy on 268 points.
Van Gisbergen's rise into the V8 Supercar ranks has been rapid. He won the CIK karting trophy in 2003, was awarded the Speedsport Star of Tomorrow Formula First Scholarship in 2004, won the 2005/2006 national Formula Ford title and finished second in the TRS series in 2006/07. He made his debut in the V8 Supercar Championship Series at Oran Park last year and immediately showed his potential, earning championship points in five of the seven rounds he competed in.
"It's something I've always wanted to do," said Van Gisbergen. "The intention was to finish the 2007 season in the Team Kiwi car and do 2008 as well. It's come a year early and it's the ultimate opportunity for me and I'm going to make the most of it."
SBR have been unbeatable in the past, winning three championships, 2003, 2004, 2005, but times have been a bit lean lately. More to the point, SBR missed out on a round win during the seven years the race was held at Pukekohe and are even more determined to do well this weekend.
"If you win one championship you can afford to relax a bit. But after winning three in a row it takes a lot out of you," said Ross Stone. "With James [Courtney] and Shane and other changes, we've regrouped and we're really confident with good cars and two good young blokes."
Having spent most of his previous racing experience in open wheelers, Van Gisbergen has adapted very well to the big, heavy tin-tops and is making steady progress up the grid.
"The driving styles are completely different," said Van Gisbergen. "There's about three times the horsepower and no aerodynamics. The racing is more aggressive and the cars are physically demanding to drive. They're awesome."
Van Gisbergen is somewhat fortunate that teammate James Courtney has been with the team since 2006 and can be used as a sounding board. "James is really good to learn from and he's really open. It's really helped for me to be able to ask him for help so we can both move forward," said Van Gisbergen.
As Van Gisbergen's confidence grows race by race, it's not such a far-fetched thought that he might pick up a podium place before season's end. "We used last year more as a learning curve to get used to the cars and circuits. It'll be tough this year and the whole field will be very competitive. But I'll be hoping to step it up and hopefully be up there at the end of season," said Van Gisbergen.
In a relatively short time Van Gisbergen has gained the respect of his peers. For a long time people have known he's quick in a car and that's something you can't learn or be taught, it has to be instinctive. There's no doubt he can drive a car very fast.
"Shane has this natural ability to drive a car at pace," said current points lead Jamie Whincup. "He's with a great team at SBR and Ross and Jimmy [Stone] will be able to really help him out. There's no doubt if he keeps his head he'll be up there in the next three or four years."
Another driver impressed with Van Gisbergen is Whincup's teammate and three-time champion Craig Lowndes. "Having raw speed is one thing but to have your head about you is another thing," said Lowndes. "I had a good battle with him at the Melbourne Grand Prix up until he made a mistake to let me through, up until then he'd been driving within his ability and was being sensible."