Fulco iii van anjou

The Triple Eight driver has all but secured a Q2 berth for tomorrow's first use of the new 'short track' qualifying system, making the most of good conditions for Practice 1 to go fastest with a record-breaking 50.789s.Van Gisbergen was constantly near the front of the field throughout the 45-minute session, first going quickest with a 51.337s inside the first few minutes.It wasn't until after the quarter-hour mark that the Kiwi's early time was bested, teammate Jamie Whincup taking over at the top with a 51.216s. Shortly before the 30-minute mark James Courtney enjoyed the briefest of stints in P1 thanks to a 51.170s, before van Gisbergen returned to the top spot with a 51.066s seconds later. With eight minutes to go Craig Lowndes became the third Triple Eight driver to go fastest, popping up on top with a 51.027s.That was the starting point for the 'happy hour', Fabian Coulthard piecing together a two-lap stint that saw him go quickest with a 51.014s, before improving with a 50.994s, … [Read more...] about Tasmania Supercars: Van Gisbergen tops first practice

Van Overbeek, 44, will partner the recently-announced Pipo Derani in ESM's #22 Nissan Onroak DPi, continuing a partnership forged this season following Patron CEO Ed Brown's decision to step down from driving duties.It will mark the Californian veteran's ninth consecutive season with ESM, van Overbeek having first joined the team for the 2010 American Le Mans Series campaign in a GT class Ferrari.His most recent win came last month at Road America alongside Derani, a result that broke a seven-race winning streak for Cadillac machinery. “The entire ESM Patron team is thrilled to have Johannes back for next season,” said ESM team owner Scott Sharp. “He was one of the first to join us when ESM was formed, and next year will be our ninth season together. "Johannes sets the mark for how a true professional driver handles himself on and off the track and with his win a few weeks ago at Road America, he showed he is as fast as ever! I expect the pairing of him … [Read more...] about ESM retains van Overbeek for 2018 IMSA season

Shane van Gisbergen will start this afternoon's second Newcastle race from 21st after copping a three-place grid penalty for impeding Will Davison during qualifying.The Red Bull Holden driver was on his way back to the pits running down the escape road at Turn 9 when he found himself in front of Davison, who was on his crucial final run.Race control determined after the session that van Gisbergen held Davison up, slapping the Kiwi with a Careless Driving penalty that drops him from 18th to 21st. Read Also: Newcastle Supercars: Van Gisbergen dominates opener The deputy race director also investigated a complain from Garry Rogers Motorsport that van Gisbergen held up Richie Stanaway between Turns 11 and 12, but no breach was established. Davison was hit with the same penalty as van Gisbergen for holding up Nick Percat at Turn 11, the Tickford driver dropping from 17th to 20th, while James Golding was dropped three places from 19th to 22nd for holding up Chaz Mostert at Turn 12. … [Read more...] about Van Gisbergen hit with Newcastle grid penalty

Van Gisbergen executed a perfect drive from pole, running deep into the first two stints before emerging with a healthy advantage for the run to the flag.The race was almost a Triple Eight cakewalk too, only a mistake from Jamie Whincup stopping the factory Holden squad from a dominant one-two.Instead it was DJR Team Penske that ended up with two drivers on the podium – and one hand on the teams' title – with Scott McLaughlin second and Fabian Coulthard third. It was the perfect start for the two Red Bull Holdens, van Gisbergen forcing McLaughlin just wide enough into Turn 1 that Whincup could get a run into Turn 2. With Whincup as rear gunner and few passing opportunities anyway, the leader was in no hurry as the race settled into its first stint. McLaughlin didn't stay bottled up behind the Red Bulls for long, the Penske driver pitting on Lap 7 before resuming in clear air. The extreme undercut meant McLaughlin jumped Whincup when the latter stopped on Lap 16, … [Read more...] about Newcastle Supercars: Van Gisbergen dominates opener

The Kiwi put in a charging drive across the final stint of the race, after pitting for fresh rubber during the final Safety Car a half hour from the end. He then engaged in a thrilling battle with fellow Mercedes driver Raffaele Marciello, whose tyres were at the end of a double-stint, the GruppeM car grabbing the final spot on the podium by just two-tenths . The stint took its toll on van Gisbergen, though, who collapsed with cramps after climbing out of the Vodafone-backed AMG GT3. While the three #888 drivers regularly ran without a cool suit throughout the day, team boss Roland Dane said he thinks it was the intensity of the final stint that played the major role in van Gisbergen's post-race fitness. "He sounded okay at the end, I think he was just knackered," Dane told Motorsport.com . "He sweats a lot anyway, even with a cool suit. "I think it was just the intensity. My experience of him is when he gives his mental all like that he's … [Read more...] about ‘Intensity’ led to van Gisbergen Bathurst breakdown