Tander's keen eye on van Gisbergen practice starts

Garth Tander kept a watchful eye on co-driver Shane van Gisbergen during testing on Tuesday.

Van Gisbergen and Tander were present at Queensland Raceway during mid-season testing.

The series leader completed the bulk of the running, with Tander also turning laps.

Van Gisbergen also completed a number of practice starts amid a run of outs off the line.

Notably, Andre Heimgartner left van Gisbergen for dead in the Saturday Darwin race.

Cam Waters also burned van Gisbergen off the line thrice at Winton.

Tander gave van Gisbergen feedback on Tuesday as the latter seeks further improvement amid his title defence.

“He’s changing stuff with how his process is going,” Tander told Supercars.com.

“I can watch from an external standpoint and see what the differences are.

“I can see if anything changes and provide feedback. I’m certainly not telling him how to do starts.

“It’s more so my feedback from outside the car correlates with his feeling inside the car.”

It was confirmed recently that Tander will combine with van Gisbergen for a fourth straight year.

Jamie Whincup was locked in alongside Broc Feeney, who were both on track on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s running was Tander’s first in anger in a Triple Eight Commodore since last December’s Repco Bathurst 1000.

Tander completed a ride day with the team in Sydney in March, albeit under rainy skies.

Regardless, the running was enough for the four-time Bathurst winner to reacquaint himself in the seat of the #97.

“Last time I drove the car was in the rain at the Sydney ride day,” the 2007 champion said.

“I hadn’t driven the car properly in the dry since Bathurst last year.

“Everything felt fine, I’m happy."

Cars will hit the track for dual practice sessions next Friday. Purchase your NTI Townsville 500 tickets now.