What we learned from return to Tasmania

Shane van Gisbergen was on another level in Tasmania as he regained the series lead.

The 2021 champion won all three races, but he didn't have it all his own way.

On three occasions, van Gisbergen fought through the field to win, and roughed up his rivals in the process.

In the finale, he even resorted to gamesmanship over the radio to get the edge.

Did Tasmania show there are cracks in his armour that his rivals can exploit, or will he race into the distance?

Here are five things Supercars.com learned from the NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint.

SVG a cut above, and his rivals must learn

Three from three, two lots of fastest lap bonus points and a series lead. 

It was a perfect weekend from the reigning champion, but he had to work for it.

He qualified fifth for the Saturday race and muscled past Will Davison and Cam Waters.

Is he too aggressive? It's just how he races, and it earned praise from Marcos Ambrose and Scott McLaughlin, two drivers who understand the value of getting their elbows out.

That is where van Gisbergen's rivals must learn; on the day he isn't fastest, make sure he stays behind. How the rest approach the Grand Prix will be telling.

De Pasquale's smarts on show

Anton De Pasquale appeared to give away a big free kick when he qualified 12th for Saturday's race.

However, he raced to sixth, before running from eighth to fifth in Sunday's first race.

A podium in the finale could have been better had he not given away P2 to teammate Will Davison.

Regardless, while he wasn't the fastest, De Pasquale still only gave away an 82-point swing to van Gisbergen.

It was an impressive case of damage limitation of the ilk that will keep him in title contention all season.

Feeney risk will pay off for Triple Eight

Broc Feeney hadn't even stepped foot in Tasmania before the weekend, let alone lapped Symmons Plains.

He left the weekend sixth in the points and with a maiden podium in tow.

He admitted he had a car well-suited to Symmons Plains, but the driver still has to do the work.

That he did, leading off the line and keeping van Gisbergen honest in Race 4.

WAU can't afford a repeat

Chaz Mostert left Sydney on a high, and left Tasmania with his head buried in his chest.

The erstwhile points leader did produce a stunning drive from 16th to fourth in Sunday's first race.

However, poor qualifying performances left him vulnerable, as evidenced by his involvement in the Winterbottom-Reynolds bingle.

Mostert was outscored by a staggering 172 points by van Gisbergen, and is now 145 points behind.

Walkinshaw Andretti United cannot give away any more ground, otherwise their title hopes will be little more than a pipe dream.

MSR's major step forward

Matt Stone Racing endured a topsy-turvy weekend, but through the drama, the small team produced some gems.

Todd Hazelwood recorded finishes of 11th, 10th and fifth, and was in the thick of it in Sunday's finale.

The luckless Jack Le Brocq, on paper, had a nightmare; however, he was quick, and it bodes well for the future.

The next step is ensuring MSR's Tassie speed was no fluke. That will be put to the test at Albert Park, but the team is in its best position yet to score more results.

And that's not even accounting for the remarkable rebuild of Le Brocq's car between Sunday races. Bravo, MSR.

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