Motorsport: Van Gisbergen aims to carry momentum into home event

Shane van Gisbergen brings good form to Pukekohe. Picture / Getty Images

New Zealand V8 Supercars driver Shane van Gisbergen may be moving from Tekno Autosport to Red Bull Racing next year but that doesn't mean he won't be trying to end the season on a high.

After a stuttering start to 2015, the 26-year-old and his team have found the right formula, steadily moving up the standings to fifth.

Van Gisbergen is just 35 points behind fellow Kiwi Fabian Coulthard and is about to strut his stuff on home soil for the first and only time in the Aussie category.

In recent years, he's been the most successful Kiwi driver at Pukekohe, with a win and two further podiums. It's a track he likes and is hoping the team's recent momentum continues to push him up the points table.

"I'm looking forward to the weekend and it should go well," said van Gisbergen. "V8s is still pretty big in New Zealand.

"It would be good to race more than once here but we only get one round, so we'll just have to make the most of it. In the last couple of years, the race has been massive."

The event has been held in April since its return to Pukekohe two years ago but has returned to its traditional November date for 2015. There's a lot more at stake at this time of year, as title contenders get set for the race to the end of the season over the next three rounds, starting this weekend.

"There will be people looking to put in some strong results to finish off the season well. It makes for some good racing, that's for sure.

"We're going good at the moment. We've been quick all year but had a bad run of luck mid-season, but lately, it's been great. Hopefully we can put on a great show this weekend. We won on the Gold Coast a couple of weeks ago, so we're feeling good coming to Pukekohe.

"If we keep doing our thing and going the way we are over the next three rounds, we should end the season well. I haven't set myself any goals other than trying to get good finishes."