Sandown Supercars: Shane van Gisbergen battles through pain to achieve 56-year-first in Race 1

It was a remarkable achievement for Shane van Gisbergen to even make it to the starting grid. But his drive at Sandown on Saturday is one for the history books.

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Shane van Gisbergen has produced a drive for the ages after defying the pain of a broken collarbone to produce a gusty victory in the opening sprint race at Sandown and maintain his unbeaten start to the year.

In doubt to even make it to the starting grid after surgery to insert a plate and screws in his collarbone two weeks ago following a mountain biking accident, van Gisbergen produced a stunning drive from 17th place on the grid to claim his third race of the season.

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Shane van Gisbergen celebrating his race 1 win at Sandown. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

After back-to-back wins at the Bathurst 500, the Triple Eight star delivered a stunning drive through the field to steal the lead from Tickford Racing’s Cameron Waters on the last lap in a thrilling finish to the 36-lap battle.

Holding a 33-point lead over Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Chaz Mostert leading into the second round, van Gisbergen has now extended his championship buffer to 60 points.

It was a double podium for the Red Bull Ampol team with the New Zealander’s teammate Jamie Whincup claiming third place behind Waters.

Van Gisbergen had done everything possible to get himself ready to race, including visiting a hyperbaric chamber to promote healing of the injury.

The Bathurst 1000 champion paid tribute to his team for helping him get to the starting line.

What a phenomenal race! 👏👏👏

SVG has clawed his way through the field to make it three from three in 2021! #RepcoSCpic.twitter.com/glXjUfUA6R

— Supercars (@supercars) March 20, 2021

“I had so much help the last couple of weeks with good surgeons, the hyperbaric chambers, a nice girlfriend looking after me and our physio,” van Gisbergen said.

“It’s been pretty tough, but I feel awesome in the car and obviously my car is great.

“I’ve been through a lot, last week - the first week in particular - was super tough.

“(I was) on some weird drugs that make you think weird things, but on some stuff this week and (it’s) much better and those drugs are no good, I don’t see the appeal to them.

“Hopefully that was a good show to watch - I was trying. I didn’t know how good I was going to be over a distance.”

Immediately after his win, van Gisbergen declared he would be fit to fight again in Sunday’s final two sprint races at Sandown.

“My pain is no worse than it is, so it should be right tomorrow,” van Gisbergen said.

“It hurts but I’m not damaging it by driving, so we’ll try again tomorrow.”

It was a record-breaking victory for van Gisbergen, who became the first driver in 56 years of Australian touring car/Supercars racing to win from starting so far back on the grid in a single-driver race at Sandown.

Van Gisbergen became the first driver in 56 years to win from 17th place on the grid. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

He started the race on a mission and by lap 16 had already charged his way up to sixth place in the field.

After pitting late in the race on lap 25, van Gisbergen produced a stunning move on lap 34 to pass then race leader Chaz Mostert, who had started the race on pole, and Whincup.

It left him in a battle for the lead with Waters in a thrilling finish, stealing the lead on the final lap from his Ford rival.

Van Gisbergen said he knew after turn two in first practice he would be able to race.

“I just thought I will go straight over the kerb and (thought) I will be able to race or I won’t,” he said.

“It hurts when you hit the kerbs, but it’s not too bad. I’m in pain, but I’m no worse than I was at the start of the day.

“I had a good first lap, saved the tyres then started picking guys off ... I saw Chaz was struggling … it was a bit of a risky move at turn two, but that’s probably what won the race.”

Whincup said he never had any doubt van Gisbergen would make it to the starting line at Sandown.

“There was a little bit of data, a few MotoGP guys who have broken collarbones, but it’s fairly decent, a collarbone and AC, it’s a big injury,” Whincup said.

“The team did everything they could, SVG has done a good job at recovery, it’s a good story.”

Originally published as Sandown Supercars: Shane van Gisbergen battles through pain to achieve 56-year-first in Race 1