The history against SVG's title defence

The weight of history is stacked against Shane van Gisbergen, who leads after three rounds.

Van Gisbergen has built a 144-point series lead, which is the second-biggest through three rounds since 2000.

The defending champion has won six of nine races, and has won at all three events in 2022.

However, his mission to defend his title gets tougher from here on paper, in more ways than one.

Van Gisbergen has never won at the site of next weekend’s Bunnings Trade Perth SuperNight.

60 career wins, but none in Perth

Additionally, the points leader after three rounds has had a tough time converting to overall glory.

Since 2000, just seven times in 22 seasons has the leader after three rounds won the title.

One of the seven instances was van Gisbergen, who last year led from start to finish.

The Perth round will provide van Gisbergen's biggest litmus test yet.

Along with the Kiwi's winless record at Wanneroo Raceway, closest rival Anton De Pasquale is behind the wheel of the form car.

Shell Fords have won the last six races in Perth dating back to 2017.

The solace for van Gisbergen is that a similar storyline emerged heading to Albert Park, which was also a Shell Ford stronghold.

Van Gisbergen won two of four races and claimed overall honours as the red Fords failed to convert any of its three poles to victory.

Can van Gisbergen overturn his Perth record, or will the Shell V-Power Racing Team register a blow to the points leader?

Find out at the Bunnings Trade Perth SuperNight. Purchase your tickets now.

Series leads after three rounds since 2000

2000: Tander led Skaife by 54 points2001: Bright led Skaife by 50 points2002: Skaife led Murphy by 410 points2003: Bright led Richards by 45 points (Ambrose 9th, 126 points behind)2004: Ambrose led Richards by 4 points2005: Ambrose led Ingall by 11 points2006: Ingall led Tander by 4 points (Kelly 4th, 17 points behind)2007: Kelly led Tander by 13 points2008: Kelly led Tander by 46 points (Whincup 5th, 132 points behind)2009: Whincup led Davison by 114 points2010: Whincup led Winterbottom by 57 points (Courtney 3rd, 75 points behind)2011: Whincup led Kelly by 81 points2012: Davison led Whincup by 21 points2013: Davison led Whincup by 31 points2014: Lowndes led Winterbottom by 28 points (Whincup 5th, 95 points behind)2015: Lowndes led Courtney by 52 points (Winterbottom 3rd, 74 points behind)2016: Whincup led McLaughlin by 15 points (van Gisbergen 6th, 106 points behind)2017: Coulthard led van Gisbergen by 7 points (Whincup 4th, 46 points behind)2018: Whincup led McLaughlin by 11 points2019: McLaughlin led Coulthard by 124 points2020: McLaughlin led Whincup by 107 points2021: van Gisbergen led Whincup by 139 points2022: van Gisbergen leads De Pasquale by 144 points