Van Gisbergen's cheeky ploy in DJR battle

Shane van Gisbergen says he used radio messages to trick his closest rivals in Race 5.

Van Gisbergen extended his series lead with dual wins on Sunday at Symmons Plains.

The reigning champion won all three races in Tasmania, a feat last achieved by Garth Tander in 2005.

Van Gisbergen held Shell V-Power Racing Team duo Will Davison and Anton De Pasquale at bay in the finale.

De Pasquale was behind van Gisbergen before he stopped on lap 10, with Davison stopping on lap 12.

The leader began to push after the Mustangs stopped, and returned to the lead after he stopped on lap 22.

With new tyres, van Gisbergen ran relatively unchallenged to the end.

It was his 58th career win, fourth of 2022 and 19th in 36 race since the 2020 Bathurst 1000.

Speaking afterwards, the Kiwi explained how radio messages may have played a part in his rivals’ early stops.

However, he admitted the Dick Johnson Racing duo remain a formidable combination.

"I was screaming over the radio pretending I had no rear [tyres left] so they pitted early and then I just went,” he said.

"So, sucked in.

“We’ve got some tough competition from these guys.

"I don’t mean that [sucked in] comment in a bad way... they’re very tough to beat.

"They’re fast guys and [I’m] enjoying it.”

Davison, who scored two podiums in three starts, admitted van Gisbergen was too fast at Symmons Plains.

"The race didn’t obviously quite go to plan at the start there,” said Davison, who dropped to fifth early on.

“We fought back and Shane did an amazing job being faultless and too good.

“There is no doubt we will look into it and see what we can do."

Van Gisbergen will carry a 67-point lead over De Pasquale to Albert Park across April 7-10.