Van Gisbergen scores pre-Townsville rally win

Supercars points leader Shane van Gisbergen has warmed up for Townsville with another rally victory.

The Red Bull Ampol Racing driver took out the single-day Far North Rally on Saturday.

Van Gisbergen won the rally, held in his native New Zealand, by a margin of over two minutes.

The eight-stage rally, totalling nearly 153 competitive kilometres, was held on New Zealand’s North Island.

Earlier this year, van Gisbergen scored a debut Australian Rally Championship podium in Canberra.

Late in 2020, he won the Battle of Jack's Ridge, also held in New Zealand.

Van Gisbergen’s rally win comes a week ahead of the NTI Townsville 500.

The Red Bull Ampol Racing driver will carry a 214-point series lead into the North Queensland event.

Van Gisbergen was again navigated by Glen Weston on Saturday, and won Special Stages 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8.

Dylan Turner finished second overall, with Todd Bawden third.

Van Gisbergen competed in the same Race Torque-prepared Skoda Fabia R5 he raced in Canberra.

He will return to the Skoda for his World Rally Championship debut in September's Rally New Zealand

The rally win comes just weeks after van Gisbergen raced to fifth in class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Kiwi’s Le Mans debut came a week before the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown.

Cars will hit the track for dual practice sessions next Friday. Purchase your NTI Townsville 500 tickets now.