Shane van Gisbergen will join the Battery World Aussie Racing Cars Super Series season finale at Highlands Motorsport Park on November 3-5.
The reigning Supercars champion and recent Bathurst 1000 winner will make his debut in the pint-sized category at the final round in his home country, held in conjunction with the 10-year anniversary of Highlands Motorsport Park.
A winner of three out of the last four Repco Bathurst 1000s and the past two Supercars Championships, van Gisbergen credentials also include a Blancpain Endurance Championship, multiple rally wins in addition to a NASCAR Cup Series race victory in Chicago earlier this year.
The New Zealander’s Aussie Racing Car Super Series cameo will also mark one of van Gisbergen’s final race appearances before joining Trackhouse Racing in America to pursue a full-time NASCAR career.
Van Gisbergen will drive a second Norganic Proteins-supported entry owned by leading Masters Cup contender Kent Quinn, who will also aim to seal his class title at Highlands Motorsport Park.
The title fight is very much open, with Joel Heinrich required to finish seventh or better for the round in his Osborn’s Transport entry to take the crown. His two pursuers are the two Team CoolDrive-backed entries for Perenso Racing’s Josh Anderson and Reece Chapman for Motorsport25.
Others to keep an eye on in the Championship Class include Shell Rimula Topgun Race Team’s Cody Brewczynski and returning former champion Darren Chamberlain in an expanded Perenso Racing line-up.
In the class battles, Gold Cup remains unresolved as Sheridan Phillips remains 15-points ahead of Jeff Waters for Fight MND, while Nathan Williams is just eight ahead of surprise packet Brandon Madden and 16 from Scott Dornan in the Rookie Cup, with 25-points available at Highlands.
Quinn comfortably leads the Masters Cup, but remains eager to round out his season on a high.
All cars and equipment arrived in Port Chalmers near Dunedin on October 19, with all equipment due to arrive at Highlands Motorsport Park this week where quarantine and customs procedures will take place.
The Battery World Aussie Racing Cars Super Series will contest four races to conclude its campaign at Highlands Motorsport Park on November 3-5.
Sky TV will have full coverage of the event.
Words and Images: Supplied
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