Van Gisbergen determined to win Richards Trophy

Shane van Gisbergen is intent on winning the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy when Supercars makes its Pukekohe swansong.

It was announced Wednesday that Pukekohe will host its final Supercars round this September.

Supercars is exploring alternative venues for the New Zealand event for the future.

Since 2013, drivers have raced at Pukekohe for the trophy in the name of the late Richards, who passed away in 2011.

The commemorative trophy is awarded to the driver who scores the most points at the ITM Auckland SuperSprint.

Van Gisbergen won it in 2016 and 2019, the most recent instance it was awarded.

He was presented the trophy by Jason Richards’ father, David, and joined on the podium for the podium photographs by Richards’ daughters, Olivia and Sienna.

The oft enigmatic van Gisbergen was brought to tears that day, and is committed to adding a third Richards Trophy to his burgeoning cabinet.

It comes as fans have pushed in a petition to have iRacing scan the circuit to immortalise it for sim racers.

"We haven’t raced for it for a couple of years," van Gisbergen said in Auckland.

"Having his family on the podium; you see them every morning, they camp inside the track.

"It’s one of the coolest feelings you get."

Supercars’ September 9-11 round will be the first in New Zealand since 2019.

Kiwis van Gisbergen and Andre Heimgartner returned to their homeland to launch the event on Tuesday.

Van Gisbergen remembered Richards as a "fierce but fair competitor" who was first to greet him when he debuted in 2007.

Van Gisbergen celebrates in 2017

"When I first joined the series, he was one of the first guys to come and say hello," van Gisbergen said of Richards.

"On track he was a fierce but fair competitor. He’s well remembered in the Supercars community.

"To race in his honour, it’s one of the best trophies you can get in our sport."

Heimgartner has added motivation to win for Richards, given he is racing the late Kiwi’s car.

Richards raced the Brad Jones Racing #8 Commodore between 2009 and 2010.

It was in Darwin in 2009 where Richards scored his first ever Supercars pole.

Heimgartner nearly did the same last month, and is hoping he can go one better for his late countryman.

An emotional van Gisbergen in 2019

"Car eight was his in the team," Heimgartner said.

"There’s still that sentiment in the team, and that emotion about it.

"Coming to Pukekohe, that’s right at the top of our list, to win that trophy.

"Another Kiwi driving number eight, hopefully the stars align."

The ITM Auckland SuperSprint will follow rounds in Tailem Bend and Sandown.

Tickets for the New Zealand event can be purchased now through Supercars.com and Ticketek.

The 2022 season will resume at the OTR SuperSprint on July 30-31. Purchase your tickets now.