SVG CLAIMS RACE 31 AT THE BOOST MOBILE SUPERCARS GC500

David Reynolds led from pole position into Turn 1 as second placed van Gisbergen defended from Cameron Waters and Chaz Mostert.

The two leaders edged away almost immediately from Waters and Mostert in what became the battle for the win. By Lap 14 the gap back to 3rd placed Waters was close to 3 seconds.

SEE THE FULL VELOCITY MAGAZINE GC500 GALLERY HERE

Van Gisbergen signalled his intent at Turn 4 on Lap 14 and momentarily ran alongside the Penrite Mustang but had to cede his track position as the narrow concrete funnel threatened to consume the Red Bull Ampol Racing Commodore.

A similar move on Lap 16 worked for the championship leader, with slight-to-side contact compromising Reynold’s exit speed.

From there the race belonged to van Gisbergen. The Kiwi controlled proceedings from the front as Reynolds and Waters made their compulsory stop before half distance and dropped out of the Top 10.

Bryce Fullwood, James Golding and Will Brown wore battle scars from contact, with Brown forced into the garage after a heavy hit with the tyre stack at the Main Beach Chicane. Golding damaged the front of the Subway Commodore after Fullwood glanced the tyres at the exit of Turn 1 and slowed up, the Subway car then hit the rear of the Middy’s Electrical entry.

The order at the head of the pack remained unchanged after the pit stop cycle until lap 48. Mostert made a move up the inside of Waters at Turn 4 and took 3rd place on the approach to the back chicane.

Worse was to befall Waters shortly after when he slid sideways at the exit of the first chicane and hit the tyre wall. The impact spun the Monster Energy Mustang at the exit of the corner, as Waters somehow managed to keep the gyrating Mustang off the wall. Both he and Mostert then stopped for a fresh set of tyres.

SEE THE FULL VELOCITY MAGAZINE GC500 GALLERY HERE

As the race entered the final stanza van Gisbergen led Reynolds by 12 seconds with Mostert less then a half-a-second further back. The Shell V-Power Mustangs of Davison and De Pasquale were next with Waters trying to climb back up the order after his earlier incident.

Waters eventually moved past De Pasquale for 5th place while Davison closed on Mostert and Reynolds in a battle for the final podium places.

Shane van Gisbergen took the chequered flag with a 17 second gap to Reynolds. Mostert just hung on for 3rd ahead of Davison, Waters, De Pasquale, B.Kostecki, Courtney, Winterbottom and Percat.

“We had to beat one car to secure it, but we killed everyone,” van Gisbergen said. “That was amazing, it was a great battle at the start, Dave was driving awesome. I enjoyed racing him, it’s been a while.

“What a year, it’s been a lot of fun… I want to come out tomorrow and do the same job.”

The win, his 20th of the year, wrapped up the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship for van Gisbergen and the Red Bull Ampol Racing Team with a round to spare.