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Van Gisbergen wary of DJR resurgence

31 Mar 2022
SVG has never won a points race at Albert Park
2 mins by James Pavey
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Shell V-Power Racing Team Fords will be “tough to beat” at Albert Park, says Shane van Gisbergen.

Van Gisbergen captured the points lead with a clean sweep at Symmons Plains.

The focus has turned to the Grand Prix event, which will host racing for the first time since 2019.

The 2020 event was cancelled early on due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supercars has raced for points at the Melbourne event since 2018; Ford has won five of the eight races, and taken six of 10 poles.

Drivers will also race for the Larry Perkins Perpetual Trophy, with six-time Bathurst winner Perkins also previously competing in Formula 1.

Van Gisbergen has won seven races at Albert Park; however, none were for points.

Race Radio: The SVG tyre bluff

His results at the championship rounds in 2018 and 2019 make for dire reading.

He recorded finishes of fourth, fourth, 13th and 13th in 2018; in 2019, he finished lower than 20th three times in four starts.

Conversely, Shell Fords have won four of the last eight points-paying Albert Park.

Mustangs swept the four races in 2019, Scott McLaughlin winning three of them.

Having just returned to the championship lead, van Gisbergen believes he’ll have a tough time keeping the red Mustangs behind.

“The Grand Prix’s been a Scotty track the last few years,” he said.

McLaughlin won three of four races in 2019

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“I’m sure these guys will be super quick as well.

“They’re going to be tough to beat, that’s for sure.

“That track, looking at the map, it’s going to be epic.

“Some fast corners… they’re saying they’re easy flat in an F1 car.

“They probably won’t be flat in our cars. It’s going to be pretty cool.”

The saving grace for van Gisbergen lies in the fact Supercars hasn’t raced on the tweaked Albert Park layout.

Neither Anton De Pasquale or Will Davison have raced a Dick Johnson Racing Mustang at the Grand Prix circuit.

'The Grand Prix’s been a Scotty track'

The 5.2km circuit shares characteristics to Sydney Motorsport Park, where De Pasquale has been the class of the field.

De Pasquale, who is just 67 points behind van Gisbergen, believes his team will give a stronger account of itself in Melbourne.

“We’ll be a bit stronger there than here,” De Pasquale said.

“The style of track and the strengths of our car. But a fair bit has changed too.

"How much that’s changed in the philosophy of the car and previous data, we’ll find out.

“I’ve obviously never been there in this car… I’m looking forward to it.”

The 2022 season will continue at Albert Park on April 7-10.

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