SVG identifies key improvement under new engineer

First-year Triple Eight engineer Andrew Edwards has vastly improved the team’s pit stops, says Shane van Gisbergen.

Under Edwards, van Gisbergen has proved a greater force than his 2021 title effort.

Through 26 races, van Gisbergen has won 16 times at eight different circuits.

For all of Triple Eight’s dominance, the team’s pit stops haven’t been at the level of some rivals.

Enter Edwards, who shifted across from Brad Jones Racing, arguably the best crew in the lane.

BJR are the two-time defending PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge champions.

Edwards was at the team for over a decade, and has since brought one-percenter pit stop knowledge to Triple Eight.

Edwards (L) keeps an eye on pit stops

On set-up days, Edwards can be seen with a stopwatch overseeing Triple Eight practice stops.

Come race day, and Edwards has van Gisbergen tuned to a degree where they can steal wins on strategy.

Notably, it worked with big overcuts at The Bend, and a recent undercut at Sandown.

Van Gisbergen pitted at the very last chance of asking at The Bend, having put his car pace to use.

Come Sandown, and Edwards brought in van Gisbergen early to cover off the pacy Will Davison.

It paid dividends, van Gisbergen holding on by 0.4s despite Davison enjoying better pace.

Edwards' impact is also evidenced by Red Bull Ampol Racing’s leap into the top four in the Pit Stop Challenge standings.

It’s a chance that hasn’t gone unnoticed on van Gisbergen, who praised Edwards and the team’s increased efforts in the lane.

“That’s another thing Andrew has brought to the team,” van Gisbergen said about pit stops.

“BJR have been the leaders of pit stops in the last few years.

“Our pit stops have really stepped up with his input, just training by the guys.

“Credit goes to them, they’ve been putting the effort in too.

“It’s been rewarding, we can go for the undercut, we can be aggressive because we trust our pit stops.

“The team’s really stepped up there.”

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