Shane van Gisbergen has become the 11th driver to win consecutive ATCC/Supercars drivers’ championships.
Van Gisbergen clinched the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship with a crushing Saturday victory on the Gold Coast.
The Red Bull Ampol Racing driver added to his 2016 and 2021 titles, all three coming with Triple Eight.
It is the 10th drivers’ championship for Triple Eight, bringing it level with Dick Johnson Racing.
“This year has obviously been a massive change for the team with Jamie (Whincup) retiring and taking over the team with the help of Jess (Dane, co-owner) and also RD (Roland Dane) taking that big backwards step,” commented van Gisbergen. “It’s also been a huge change with (David) Cauchi leaving and us getting a new engineer in Andrew (Edwards), but the team has been awesome.
“Although having no real rule changes has helped, we’ve got a good car that we could continue on with, it’s just been great this year, not many mistakes – a couple from myself which hurt, but it’s been amazing this year and we’ve still got a fair way to go.”
The two teams have won all seven titles dating back to 2016, and 14 out of 15 since 2008.
Van Gisbergen’s march to the 2022 title was off the back of a record-breaking haul of 20 wins.
It follows his dominant 2021 title campaign, which featured 14 wins.
Van Gisbergen had to overhaul David Reynolds to get the job done, but was untouchable from there.
The 33-year-old took victory with a 16.8s winning margin.
“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.
“Thank you to Red Bull Ampol Racing… what a year, it’s been a lot of fun.”
When asked on the emotions of sealing the title, van Gisbergen said: “Nothing yet, I want to come out tomorrow and do the same job.
“It’s certainly pretty special, to see the guys, how much effort they’ve been putting in, how good our cars are.
“I’m stoked, It’s hard to put it into words yet.”
Red Bull Ampol Racing can secure the 2022 teams’ championship title on Sunday.
Shell V-Power Racing Team outscored its rivals by nine points on Saturday, with Broc Feeney 14th.
Red Bull Ampol Racing leads by 662 points, with 576 on offer after Sunday’s action.
Cars will return to the track on Sunday for ARMOR ALL Qualifying, a Shootout and Race 32.
Consecutive ATCC/Supercars drivers’ championships
Bob Jane: 1962, 1963
Ian Geoghegan: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969
Bob Jane: 1971, 1972
Allan Moffat: 1976, 1977
Dick Johnson: 1981, 1982
Dick Johnson: 1988, 1989
Jim Richards: 1990, 1991
Craig Lowndes: 1998, 1999
Mark Skaife: 2000, 2001, 2002
Marcos Ambrose: 2003, 2004
Jamie Whincup: 2008, 2009
Jamie Whincup: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Scott McLaughlin: 2018, 2019, 2020
Shane van Gisbergen: 2021, 2022
Comments