Shane van Gisbergen: 'There’s actually a bit of pressure!'

BP Supercars All Stars Eseries points leader Shane van Gisbergen has joked his return to better internet at his Gold Coast home comes with newfound pressure.

WATCH: VAN GISBERGEN'S DECISIVE PASS AT PHILLIP ISLAND

Until last Friday, the Red Bull Holden Racing Team driver had spent the COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand where poor internet quality had prevented him from running a webcam in line with the rest of the field.

That had seemingly led to lighthearted rumours that van Gisbergen’s New Zealand-based cat had played a part in his dominant run of form in the Eseries.

The 2016 champion has won seven of the past 10 races to seize a 146-point buffer over Kiwi compatriot Scott McLaughlin heading into the penultimate round.

And he laughs there’ll be nowhere to hide now, with a webcam to operate in tonight’s Round 9 action.

“I don’t know where that rumour came from, bloody someone is stirring shit, but for me it’s just a bit of fun,” van Gisbergen told Supercars.com.

“That’s what this Eseries is, to keep people entertained while we’re not racing and it’s been really fun.

“It’s actually quite fun for us drivers, we obviously take it seriously and want to do well but it’s been fun.

“Everyone knows I’ve been doing sim racing for a long time and I don’t know where the rumours came from that I wasn’t driving but to be honest.

“I was thinking about it the other day, now I’m in Australia and I’ve got internet, having to do the video camera… if I go bad with the camera on me people will think it wasn’t me driving!

“So there’s actually a bit of pressure on this week!”

Van Gisbergen’s move back across the Tasman has done little to halt his online racing form, winning the opening round of the World RX Esports Invitational Eseries.

He explained technical upgrades to his New Zealand simulator had paid dividends – and he has planned similar improvements for his Australian equipment.

“My sim wasn’t that good in New Zealand to start with and I’ve had a few upgrades and a bit of help from Omen, HP… and we got my sim there a lot more up to scratch,” said the 31-year-old.

“That made a huge difference once I had good equipment.

“I haven’t done too much on my sim here in Australia so I don’t know if it’s as fast yet but I’ll tune it up and hopefully we’ve got some parts arriving for it which will make it a bit better.

“But for sure the formats and stuff, they keep it really exciting and try to make it different every week but it makes it a little bit of a lottery championship-wise so you have just got to somehow stay out of trouble.”

Round 9 action tonight will include oval racing at Michigan International Speedway.