Shane van Gisbergen made it two out of two at Pukekohe today, leading from lights to flag to win race two in a dramatic Brother 350, the third round of the BNT V8 SuperTourers.
At the initial start they all made it around the first corner with the exception of Angus Fogg who speared off without contact. Into the turn two and three complex, however, and Richard Moore was hit from behind and spun around into the on-coming pack. Simon McLennan was first on the scene and hit the M3 Racing machine hard, ripping out the passenger side rear corner and putting both cars out on the spot.
Out came the red flag and the second full restart of the day. After a delay whilst the mess was cleaned up the cars got going again – thankfully in dry conditions but still with the streams of water affecting the surface at several points on the track.
Van Gisbergen was quickly into his stride and although Greg Murph pushed him very hard early on, as soon as SVG got enough temperature in his tyres, he was gone, looking smooth and composed in very challenging conditions.
After initially attacking him and even having a couple of lunges for the lead, Murphy started to fall back. Ant Pedersen had passed Scott McLaughlin for third early in the race, and was now reeling in Murphy. Dan Gaunt was going well in fifth, revelling in new tyres, and Johnny Mac was making handy progress in sixth too.
Behind them, there was a cracking race developing for the remaining places in the top ten – with Andre Heimgartner, Bell, Simon Evans, Dominic Storey, Kayne Scott and Mitch Cunningham all nose to tail for the majority of the race.
Bell spun on lap 15 bringing out the safety car for three laps before SVG nailed another great restart and sealed the win, cruising home in the last couple of laps as Murph had his mirrors full of Pedersen. McLaughlin continued in a lonely fourth while John McIntyre pulled off the pass of the race around the outside of Gaunt heading up to the mountain to take a well-earned fifth.
Daniel Gaunt was sixth – still in recovery mode after a slow start to the weekend – while Andre Heimgartner, Simon Evans, Dominic Storey and returnee Kayne Scott in the United Videos Ford Falcon bagged tenth place.
Tim Edgell – unclassified but running – had suffered an oil leak but once a trip to the pits had sorted the problem, he was consistent and quick right through to the end,
Brother 350 – Pukekohe Park – BNT V8 SuperTourers Round 3 – RACE 2
1. Shane van Gisbergen – Ford Falcon V8ST
2. Greg Murphy – Holden Commodore V8ST
3. Ant Pedersen – Ford Falcon V8ST
4. Scott McLaughlin – Holden Commodore V8ST
5. John McIntyre – Ford Falcon V8ST
6. Daniel Gaunt – Ford Falcon V8ST
7. Andre Heimgartner – Holden Commodore V8ST
8. Simon Evans – Holden Commodore V8ST
9. Dominic Storey – Ford Falcon V8ST
10. Kayne Scott – Ford Falcon V8ST
11. Mitchell Cunningham – Ford Falcon V8ST
12. Paul Manuell – Holden Commodore V8ST
13. Angus Fogg – Holden Commodore V8ST
NC Tim Edgell – Holden Commodore V8ST
DNF Eddie Bell – Ford Falcon V8ST
DNF Richard Moore – Holden Commodore V8ST
DNF Simon McLennan – Holden Commodore V8ST
DNS Ashley Walsh – Holden Commodore V8ST
DNS Andy Booth – Holden Commodore V8ST
