SVG nominated for prestigious NZ sports award

Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen is a finalist for a prestigious New Zealand sporting award.

Van Gisbergen has been announced as a finalist in the ‘Sportsman of the Year’ category for the 60th edition of the Halberg Awards.

Van Gisbergen has previously made shortlists in the awards, with Scott McLaughlin also previously nominated in 2020 and 2021.

The awards recognise New Zealand’s sporting excellence.

The 2023 awards will be the first held since the passing of namesake Sir Murray Halberg.

It comes after van Gisbergen sealed back-to-back Supercars titles in 2022.

His 2022 campaign featured a record 21 wins, including a second Bathurst 1000 victory.

Van Gisbergen also recently named 10th on an Autosport list of the top 50 drivers in the world.

The Halberg Foundation whittled down the finalists from 76 to 30.

Van Gisbergen was named on the list, and is one of five athletes in the Sportsman of the Year category.

He is up against cyclist Aaron Gate, gymnast Dylan Schmidt, skier Nico Porteous and squash player Paul Coll.

Cyclist Ellesse Andrews, sprint kayaker Dame Lisa Carrington, golfer Lydia Ko, rugby player Ruahei Demant and snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott are vying for Sportswoman honours.

Motorsport New Zealand CEO Elton Goonan was delighted to see van Gisbergen recognised.

“It’s great that the Halberg Foundation has recognised Shane’s extraordinary motorsport achievements,” Goonan said.

“New Zealand has such a depth of motorsport talent and a huge number of success stories at the pinnacle of the sport, including current World [Endurance] Champion Brendon Hartley.

“Shane has an unreal ability behind the wheel, there are very few drivers who are instantly competitive in the wide range of vehicles and, in fact, entire motorsport disciplines as Shane.

“We’ve seen his success in Supercars, open wheelers at the New Zealand Grand Prix and recently his rallying exploits at World Rally Championship level.

“He is very deserving of this finalist selection and I know the entire motorsport community in New Zealand, and abroad, will have their fingers crossed when the winner is announced.”

The 60th Halberg Awards ceremony will be held on February 15.

The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle on March 10-12.

Tickets are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.