The fans wanted a Kiwi win, and it was a Kiwi win they got. Shane van Gisbergen is first to the chequered flag in the second race of the weekend at Pukekohe ahead of Chaz Mostert and Cam Waters.
The front row lockout for Red Bull saw van Gisbergen jump teammate Broc Feeney, with the youngster covering Davison off until Turn 1, where the Shell V-Power Mustang managed a move around the outside to take second.
The other V-Power of Anton de Pasquale didn’t fare quite as well, slow from the start and through the early lap before being squeezed between Heimgartner and Brodie Kostecki, spinning across the latter and into the wall at the entry to Turn 5. Severe was the damage, to the point where the car was pointed 45 degrees to travel straight.
A frightening Lap 1 incident just a few corners later saw Mark Winterbottom squeeze Will Brown through Turn 7, sending Brown into the barrier at pit entry and moving the solid concrete wall significantly.
This brought about a quick red flag, the barrier blocking entry to the lane. Winded from the accident, Brown emerged from the car and went to the medical centre quickly. He later emerged to return to the garage mostly unscathed.
Come the restart some 30 minutes later, van Gisbergen backed the field up until the last possible moment before moving, tacking Davison with him through the opening corners.
Davison bravely attempted a move around the outside at Turn 4 but out-braked himself, going wide and allowing Mostert and Waters to pass.
The mandatory pit stops saw no changes up front, with van Gisbergen retaking the lead once the rest of the field had come in after his lap 19 stop.
That was how things remained up front, van Gisbergen taking it comfortably from Mostert with Waters coming home third.
Davison recovered well to come in fourth, Scott Pye rounding out the top five.
Heimgartner’s good form this weekend continues after yesterdays second place finish, settling for sixth in todays first event.
Race 29, the final ever Supercar race at Pukekohe, gets underway at 3.55 this afternoon.
