Van Gisbergen thrilled to have father trackside

Shane van Gisbergen is buoyed by his father Robert’s return to the Supercars paddock.

Lost from Triple Eight garages amid the restrictions of COVID-19 has been van Gisbergen’s father.

Robert van Gisbergen is a racer in his own right and has been a major influence on two-time Supercars champion Shane’s career.

Father and son last shared a Supercars paddock in Adelaide in 2020.

Two-and-a-half years later, Robert will finally get to watch his son race a Supercar.

Van Gisbergen senior was home in his native New Zealand when Shane won the 2020 Bathurst 1000.

"I knew he was going to win one, one day," Robert said at the time of his son’s Great Race win.

"Unfortunately, I wasn’t there to witness it, but I was glued to the TV at home [in Manukau, New Zealand].

"It’s a great feeling having your boy win Bathurst, a really great feeling."

Speaking in Townsville on Thursday, van Gisbergen junior was delighted to have his biggest fan back in his corner.

“I want to go home as much as possible,” he said.

“It’s a pretty cool time of year there, so I’ll be going back next week as well.

“Dad hasn’t been to a Supercars race since Adelaide 2020.

“He just turned up today, so it’s cool to have him here as well.”

The van Gisbergens reunited in New Zealand last week as Shane competed at the Far North Rally.

The van Gisbergens at the Far North Rally last week

The Red Bull Ampol Racing driver duly won the event, continuing on his family line in rallying.

In late 2020, Shane drove Robert's red Ford Escort RS1800 in the Rally of Auckland.

Come September, and van Gisbergen will make his World Rally Championship debut on home soil.

For now, the focus will be on van Gisbergen’s title defence continuation in Townsville.

“He still tries to [give me advice],” van Gisbergen, who leads by 214 points, said.

“It’s just cool to have him here, he’s a huge race fan.

“We’d probably both be here if we weren’t in it.

“It’s pretty cool to have him here again.”

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