Van Gisbergen on course for McLaughlin record

Shane van Gisbergen could break a Scott McLaughlin record should he carry on his winning ways in 2022.

Van Gisbergen has won nine of this season's 15 races, and has already surpassed his 2016 title-winning haul of eight.

Last year, the Red Bull Ampol Racing driver won 14 races en route to his second drivers' title.

Countryman McLaughlin holds the record of most wins in a season.

McLaughlin won 18 races in 2019 aboard a Shell V-Power DJR Team Penske Mustang.

His 18-race haul broke Craig Lowndes' long-standing record of 16 wins set in 1996.

Remarkably, McLaughlin won his 18 races in the first 25 races of 2019; he also missed a race at Surfers Paradise.

Van Gisbergen already has more wins to this point of the season versus 2021.

After five rounds in 2021, van Gisbergen had won eight of 14 races.

McLaughlin won a record 18 races in 2019

What's more is that van Gisbergen has won at all five rounds in 2022.

There are a minimum 19 races left in 2022 for van Gisbergen to surpass McLaughlin's record.

However, while he is class of the field, he has adopted a new self-preservation mentality in a bid to shake his 'win it or bin it' approach.

It was recently on show at Winton, where after a Saturday clash with Cam Waters, van Gisbergen avoided further risk and slotted into second on the Sunday.

"I just asked for all the info on the radio," van Gisbergen explained after the Winton finale.

"We took three tyres, a) to do something different, but b) to get the fastest lap.

"Getting the fastest lap, you only lose three points, so now that we had that and Andrew said not too much risk.

"Maybe I didn’t get to him enough anyway, but definitely the last two or three laps I left a bit on the table. "It’s only a three-point loss at the end of the race.

"I’m conflicted in my own head this weekend… the old Shane would have [had a crack at Waters]."

Considering his form at Hidden Valley Raceway, there's every chance the streak will continue.

The Kiwi won both Sunday races last June, adding to his wins in 2011 and 2016.

Should van Gisbergen win again this season, it would be victory No.10 of the season.

Only Mark Skaife in 1999 with 12 and Lowndes one year later with 10 have won 10 or more races but not the title.

The odds are in van Gisbergen's favour; he holds a 281-point lead heading to the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown.

After five rounds in 2021, van Gisbergen's championship lead was 221 points.

The 33-year-old will make his maiden 24 Hours of Le Mans start next weekend before returning to Australia.

The 2022 season will resume in Darwin on June 17-19. Purchase your tickets now.

*Season ongoing