The Race 2 winner all however refused to have interaction with press within the post-race media convention, regularly reeling off the identical line – “Due to my staff, our automobiles have been superior. All our speaking was executed on monitor. Thanks” – when fielding questions.
He later expanded on the matter barely, hinting at exterior strain to not criticise the Gen3 platform and explicitly confirmed he had been warned for earlier feedback.
“I attempted to only knuckle down and focus after which I mentioned quite a lot of stuff yesterday, tried to open up a bit extra after which perhaps it bit me within the arse,” he mentioned.
“I simply mentioned the reality concerning the automobiles I assume, tried to be sincere. And it goes down the incorrect method. So I will give attention to my driving.”
The shutdown adopted a 3rd straight look within the end-of-day press convention for van Gisbergen, who on Friday known as for higher warmth safety within the new automobiles.
He then used the platform to recommend points with overheating tyres hadn’t been solved by the brand new guidelines on Saturday.
David Reynolds, who was vocal about parity issues within the lead-up to Newcastle, sympathised with van Gisbergen and his sudden reluctance to talk up on issues.
It is thought Reynolds’ feedback have been unpopular with some senior Supercars figures.
“They do not need us to say something detrimental,” he mentioned. “It is a fully completely different change for the game. We drove the identical automobiles for 10 years and we beloved these automobiles and for us that is simply completely different.
“The response won’t be the perfect response, however over time it’d get higher. We would get higher at driving these automobiles and setting them up. It is a lengthy street.”
Shane van Gisbergen, Triple Eight Race Engineering Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Picture by: Edge Photographics
Van Gisbergen’s media convention antics wound up on the Fox Sports activities broadcast, though the clip was restricted to his staged response and did not embody the reason that adopted.
That robbed van Gisbergen’s actions of essential context because the internet hosting staff labored on the idea that it was a response to van Gisbergen and Triple Eight being disqualified from Saturday’s race.
“We’ve got been in some fairly tense press conferences through the years the place blokes have been fired into the fence and stuff has gone on, and that’s a part of the historical past and the rivalry and the authenticity of what we do,” mentioned Fox Sports activities host and commentator – and Supercars Board member – Mark Skaife on the printed.
“However once you’re the champion, you have got an envoy’s function on this sport and though you won’t need to make any extra remark, you even have an obligation as a custodian of the game to say what you must say concerning the outcomes and what has gone on at this time.
“Now whether or not he agrees, clearly he gained’t be liking disqualification from yesterday. He has come into at this time offended about how it’s, however there’s a responsibility of care, there’s something about being the champion driver and the ambassador within the sport.
“When you’re a media individual from anyplace on this nation and also you desire a remark about Supercars racing, the primary individual you ask is Shane van Gisbergen.
“He has an obligation below that state of affairs as one of many highest paid, absolutely the bloke who has been the benchmark operator. There isn’t any one on this trade that in any method, form or type would ever contend on his driving expertise and his capability.
“He’s extraordinary, perhaps the most effective drivers ever, I’d name him Jim Richards-like, he’s unbelievable. However you do off the monitor have an obligation and that’s not proper.”