Shane van Gisbergen stuns from pit lane to win New Zealand Grand Prix
Shane van Gisbergen has won the 66th New Zealand Grand Prix despite starting the race from pit lane after setting off his fire extinguisher.
Rookie Kaleb Ngatoa started the jewel in the Castrol Toyota Racing Series from pole position but all eyes in the sold-out Hampton Downs crowd were on Shane van Gisbergen.
The Bathurst winner and 2016 Supercars champion had set off his extinguisher before the race start and underwent a nervous wait as his team hastily cleaned his car and overalls and fitted a replacement.
Daniel Gaunt, a two-time New Zealand Grand Prix winner, stormed into the lead at the start and controlled the race from the front, but was coming under pressure from Chris van der Drift in second.
Van der Drift saw an opportunity to take the lead of the race and went for it, clipping the rea of Gaunt’s car and damaging his front wing.
Peter Vodanovich stopped on track, bringing out the Safety Car.
This allowed van der Drift to pit for repairs and gave van Gisbergen his first advantage, but his pace was such that he could have gone without it, making the top ten within the first ten laps.
By Lap 15 van Gisbergen was up to third, and on Lap 19 he took the lead, driving off into history to take the race win by two seconds.
He became the first driver to ever sweep a Toyota Racing Series weekend, and the first to start a Grand Prix or TRS race from pit lane and win.
André Heimgartner came home in second, his hand heavily strapped after an accident earlier in the day, followed by Matthew Payne.
"It didn't really get off to a good start when I pressed the fire extinguisher by mistake but the team were awesome getting me ready to go," said van Gisbergen.
"The safety car was perfect and the car was really hooked up and absolutely awesome. I'm surprised it's all still there as it was a bit of a rough up going through the field."
"To get my name on that trophy is a pretty special thing. Looking at those names from the 50s and 60s and some of my heroes too. I'm stoked."
79 year-old Kenny Smith, who had himself made history with his 50th Grand Prix start, presented the Motor Cup Trophy to van Gisbergen.
(Image: John Cowpland/TGRNZ)
