Lucas Oil's Shane van Gisbergen is set to celebrate TEKNO Autosports' 50th event start with more on-track success, having shown stunning race pace on his run to second at the previous round in Darwin.
The New Zealander, who continues to be a championship dark horse with 1111 points and sixth in the drivers' standings after six events, is happy with his season so far – and believes that his VIP Petfoods Commodore is again headed for the podium at this weekend's Townsville 500.
It couldn't happen at a better time, with the Lucas Oil-powered TEKNO team proudly celebrating its 50th V8 Supercars event start there.
TEKNO, based in Stapylton, a suburb of Brisbane, made its debut back in 2011 at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit – with star driver Van Gisbergen joining last year, and taking two victories (Adelaide and Sydney) in that season.
The New Zealander has since become a potent force with the TEKNO – taking all of the team's championship race wins, including this year in Auckland, as well as three wins at the non-championship Australian Grand Prix.
Van Gisbergen has form in Townsville around the 2.86-km (1.14mi ) Reid Park circuit having scored a pole position on Saturday and strong drive to third place on Sunday last year in his Lucas Oil-powered VIP Petfoods Commodore.
The event, which has been run since 2009, will follow the SuperStreet format – with three races for the first time. There will be two 125km races on Saturday, and a 200km feature on Sunday.
The event will be run exclusively on the hard tyres.
Shane van Gisbergen, #97 VIP Petfoods/Lucas Oil Holden VF Commodore:
"I'm sure we can be competitive in Townsville, and if we can get on the podium on both days that would be really cool. We had a fast car at Reid Park last year with pole on Saturday, and on Sunday we came back to third.
"We've got the car that can do the job. We just have to make sure it's prepared well and make sure we nail the new format.
"It's definitely a track and event I enjoy. It's a reasonably new event, and it's a pretty live little town on that weekend that makes it fun to be at."
TEKNO Autosports' Shane van Gisbergen talks Lucas Oil through a lap of the Townsville Reid Park circuit:
Thoughts on the Reid Park circuit:
"For a street track it's great. It has a bit of everything. It's part permanent track, which feels like a normal circuit – and then part street circuit. I'd say it's one of the better tracks we go to across the year, and all the drivers love it."
On Turns 1/2:
"We get up to 260km/h down the straight, through the kink, which is easy flat, and you jump on the brakes hard as you go into the tight Turn 2. There's always good action there on the first lap, and it's also the best passing spot on the track."
On Turns 3-7:
"Then you're into the conventional part of the circuit. It's quite nice and flowing with two chicanes, one fast and one slow. You really have to be aggressive with the car over the kerbs. It looks quite impressive from the outside, because all of the cars are bouncing around all over the place. This is one of my favourite parts of the track."
On Turns 8-13:
"To finish off the lap, there's a long sequence of right-handers, which are really demanding on the car in terms of traction. The final corner (Turn 13) is another passing zone, which is right in front of the grandstands – so it's great if you can make your move stick there. You look like a hero!"
2014 Townsville 500 Schedule:
Friday, 4 July
10:10 – 10:30 Practice 1
11:40 – 12:00 Practice 2
12:50 – 13:10 Practice 3
Saturday, 5 July
10:30 – 10:50 Practice 4
11:40 – 11:50 Race 20 Qualifying
12:00 – 12:10 Race 21 Qualifying
14:15 – 15:15 Race 20 (44 laps)
16:50 – 17:50 Race 21 (44 laps)
Sunday, 6 July
11:00 – 11:20 Race 22 Qualifying
12:05 – 12:35 Top 10 Shootout
15:55 – 17:55 Race 22 (88 laps)
*N.B. The above times are all in Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Top 10 Drivers' Championship Points
Mark Winterbottom: 1451
Craig Lowndes: 1290
Jamie Whincup: 1265
Fabian Coulthard: 1204
James Courtney: 1120
Shane van Gisbergen: 1111
Scott McLaughlin: 1045
David Reynolds: 952
Chaz Mostert: 914
Jason Bright: 881
Top 10 Teams' Championship Points
Red Bull Racing Australia: 2580
Pepsi Max Crew FPR Ford: 2390
Brad Jones Racing: 2085
Holden Racing Team: 1998
Norton Hornets: 1604
Erebus Motorsport: 1578
Valvoline Racing GRM: 1400
Wilson Security Racing: 1352
Jack Daniel's Racing: 1264
Tekno Autosports: 1136
