van Gisbergen heads home to contest in support races of the A1GP World Cup

Topics:  Shane van Gisbergen

Stone Brothers Racing
January 22, 2009

Counting down to the beginning of the 2009 V8 Supercar season SBR’s Shane van Gisbergen will race a Porsche GT3 at the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport meeting at Taupo Motorsport Park in New Zealand this weekend.

Shane will partner fellow Kiwi Mark Russ in two 50 minute enduro races during the trophy non-championship round. Shane’s involvement in the event is all part of his preparations for Round 1 of the V8 Supercars Championship Series held in Adelaide, 19-21 March.

SBR Team Principle Ross Stone views the opportunity for Shane to get back behind the wheel this weekend as an integral part of his preseason warm-up.

‘There are no second chances when you’re on the starting grid for race 1 at Clipsal so we are keen to have Shane participate in events like this whenever possible’.

There was no need to persuade Shane as he regards Taupo as his favourite circuit. ‘It is a very challenging track and can be very rewarding when your car is working well so I jumped at the chance to race there this weekend’.

The Taupo event also fuels the racing drought for Shane during the three month gap in-between races on the V8 Supercar calendar.

‘I’ve enjoyed the break, it was great to head back home to New Zealand to catch up with family and friends over Christmas however I’m excited about the season ahead and looking forward to getting back in the car again’.

Having just come off a week at a training camp with Phil Young, his personal trainer, van Gisbergen has plans to be as physically and mentally prepared as possible for the V8 Season when he races in his new look SP Tools FG Falcon at Clipsal in two months time.

For information on Shanes results this weekend go to
www.a1gptaupo.com
www.gt3.co.nz