Van Gisbergen cleared after Erebus request
Erebus Motorsport requested an investigation into Shane van Gisbergen over alleged dangerous driving in Race 13, the stewards’ report has revealed.
Van Gisbergen finished sixth in Saturday’s race, which was won by Team 18’s Mark Winterbottom.
According to the report, Erebus alleged van Gisbergen had driven “dangerously slowly” between Turns 6 and 12 on the final lap.
Van Gisbergen finished just 0.5s ahead of Erebus driver Will Brown.
It came after van Gisbergen and Brodie Kostecki battled on a Safety Car restart earlier in the race, with the latter losing ground.
Van Gisbergen had attacked Kostecki down pit straight, but later went defensive to Brown behind at the hairpin, saying over the radio his "rear wheels were off the ground" due to contact from behind.
Kostecki later finished fourth, overhauling local driver Bryce Fullwood for fourth.
Van Gisbergen would hound Fullwood in the final laps, but crossed the line 1.9s behind the #14 Middy’s Electrical Camaro.
The report reads:
A post-race investigation was also conducted by DRD (deputy race director) at the request of Erebus Motorsport into an allegation that Car 97 had been driven dangerously slowly between Turns 6 and 12 on Lap 35. A review of broadcast footage and judicial camera footage from Car 97 showed that the gap between Car 97 and the car ahead, Car 14, progressively increased in this section of the circuit and Car 97 had reduced speed but there was no evidence that Car 97 had been travelling at such a slow speed or erratically such as to present a danger to other Cars. Therefore, no breach of the Rules could be established.
After the race, Brown said: "To get up to seventh was great, I positioned the car well on each restart, and gained a few spots from people making mistakes.
“I’m sure I would’ve been called worse before, I’m not bothered about it, to be honest.
“He was doing his normal tricks by rolling out of the throttle and trying to position me on the outside. I wasn’t going to play into his games.
“I tried to let him know I was there a few times, and obviously he didn’t like it."
It’s the second time in three events that Erebus has requested an investigation into van Gisbergen following the dramatic Perth opener.
The Race 7 win went down to the wire, and ended in contact between van Gisbergen and Kostecki.
The report also revealed Erebus requested an investigation into a pit lane incident, with Brown taking avoiding action of a Team 18 tyre hit by Fullwood.
Thomas Randle was penalised to the tune of five seconds for hitting Nick Percat at the final corner on lap 11.
Randle crossed the line 17th, but was classified 21st.
