Bathurst 1000: Shane van Gisbergen predicts the Mustang will “sandbag” ahead of big race
Holden hero Shane van Gisbergen fears the true speed of Scott McLaughlin’s championship leading Mustang might not be revealed until the start of next Sunday’s 161 lap race.
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Holden hero Shane van Gisbergen is predicting dirty tactics from Ford at Mount Panorama next weekend, believing DJR Team Penske could “sandbag” the all-conquering Mustang, holding it back in practice.
Stoking one of Australian sport’s most famous rivalries as the countdown to the great race continues, the Red Bull Holden Racing star claimed the Mustang could prove unbeatable as the iconic Pony returns to Mount Panorama for the first time since 1986.
A former series champion yet to win a Bathurst crown, van Gisbergen fears the true speed of Scott McLaughlin’s championship-leading Mustang might not be revealed until the start of next Sunday’s 161-lap race.
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The Holden driver claims the Fords would go slow in practice, beginning Thursday, to stop Supercars officials from making any aerodynamic changes to dull the Mustang, should an unfair race fight loom.
The practice of not revealing a cars true speed is called “sandbagging”.
“We won’t know (how fast the Mustang is) until Sunday,’’ van Gisbergen said.
“Teams play games now with sandbagging. You have no idea who is going to be fast from practice now. There are too many games and they will be no all-out pace (until the race).’’
Van Gisbergen hinted the Mustang may still be unfairly fast despite a series of go-slow changes forced on Ford throughout the year.
“I don’t know (if the Mustang can be beat),’’ van Gisbergen said.
“It is so uncertain. Unfortunately, the goalposts keep on moving. The sport is going the right thing to try and equalise the cars, but I don’t know if they have it right.
“And we won’t be able to change a lot once the race has started,’’ van Gisbergen said.
“There is not a lot you can do to the cars anymore. What you have got is what you have got. We always start a bit loose and hope the track comes to you.
“It is a hard one for the engineers but we will certainly be pushing.’’
Van Gisbergen said his race one win in New Zealand last round did not mean his Commodore was a match for the Mustang.
“There is a lot of uncertainty about our car,’’ van Gisbergen said.
“Especially with the aero. We don’t know what it is going to be like at full speed. We had a good feeler in New Zealand, it was certainly better, but the speeds are much higher at Bathurst.’’
Van Gisbergen is hoping new co-driver Garth Tander will help him break through to score his first win at Mount Panorama.
A last-minute addition to the Red Bull stable after his surprise full-time axing from Garry Rogers Motorsport, Tander is a three-times Bathurst winner.
“He has been great for both me and the team,’’ van Gisbergen said.
“We have been working really well together so far and I can’t wait to race with him. I think his experience will really show when we get there. He has had a lot of input on the car but it is during the race that his experience will show.
“I haven’t won this race so I am keen to listen and learn from a guy that has won it a few times now.
“For me it is about understanding more about what the car needs over a weekend and I am sure he will help me there.’’
Van Gisbergen admitted he had a burning desire to win at Mount Panorama.
“Yeah, I do,’’ van Gisbergen said. “I am not pinning all my hopes on it, but it would certainly feel pretty good.’’
Originally published as Bathurst 1000: Shane van Gisbergen predicts the Mustang will “sandbag” ahead of big race
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