Supercars: De Pasquale holds off van Gisbergen to win after wild start

The growing tension between Supercars’ leading two teams was on show for all today as Anton De Pasquale outlasted Shane van Gisbergen in an incident-packed BP Ultimate Sydney SuperSprint opener.

From the very start of the race, it was on between Shell V-Power Racing and Red Bull Ampol Racing, with Jamie Whincup moving across after a bad start into the path of Will Davison and almost forcing the #17 Mustang into the wall.

Anton de Pasquale wins race 1 of the BP Ultimate Sydney SuperSprint. Event 10 of the Repco Supercars Championship, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 13 NOV 2021

The pair avoided collision and made it through Turn 1 unscathed as van Gisbergen and De Pasquale opened up an early lead.

Behind the leaders, James Courtney was sent into a spin at 180km/h after a skirmish with Tim Slade and Scott Pye, with the #44 Boost Mobile Mustang sent into the infield styrofoam boards.

It was De Pasquale’s fourth win in seven starts at Sydney Motorsport Park this season, and fifth of the season. It was his sixth career win.

Van Gisbergen extended his series lead to 349 points with his 20th podium in 26 starts this season.

Van Gisbergen

Erebus Motorsport rookie Will Brown took third to record his second career podium, Jamie Whincup was fourth to hold onto second in Repco Supercars Championship standings.

Pit stops and strategy played a huge part in today’s result with two more races tomorrow and only limited tires for the entire weekend.

Van Gisbergen only took on two tires in his pit stop today and emerged ahead of De Pasquale.
De Pasquale, who had four tires fitted, hounded van Gisbergen and passed a Red Bull Ampol Commodore late to take the race lead he would never give up.

“Pretty stoked to get the win, a good day. We’ll try and do something similar tomorrow,” De Pasquale said.

Anton de Pasquale wins race 1 of the BP Ultimate Sydney SuperSprint. Event 10 of the Repco Supercars Championship, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 13 NOV 2021

“Obviously we used a couple more tires than the other guys, but all good.

“It’s the fastest way to the end… pole, leading the race, you don’t want to throw it away.
“We’ll take the win when we can get them.”

On the van Gisbergen overtake, he added: “It’s about all I had, that or maybe a couple more corners.

“The guys said they took two tires, so I knew I was going to have grip out of that corner.

“I did it on Jamie and then Shane on the next lap. They were pretty nice to me, but the speed difference is so much with the two tires.”

Race Results

Pos No. Driver Car Behind
1 11 Anton De Pasquale Ford Mustang GT 0.000s
2 97 Shane van Gisbergen Holden Commodore ZB 1.891s
3 9 Will Brown Holden Commodore ZB 3.424s
4 88 Jamie Whincup Holden Commodore ZB 5.484s
5 99 Brodie Kostecki Holden Commodore ZB 6.175s
6 20 Scott Pye Holden Commodore ZB 11.605s
7 17 Will Davison Ford Mustang GT 13.141s
8 35 Zane Goddard Holden Commodore ZB 13.906s
9 3 Tim Slade Ford Mustang GT 14.062s
10 7 Andre Heimgartner Ford Mustang GT 14.614s
11 25 Chaz Mostert Holden Commodore ZB 18.221s
12 14 Todd Hazelwood Holden Commodore ZB 20.846s
13 18 Mark Winterbottom Holden Commodore ZB 22.192s
14 96 Macauley Jones Holden Commodore ZB 22.645s
15 22 Garry Jacobson Holden Commodore ZB 22.881s
16 19 Fabian Coulthard Holden Commodore ZB 26.069s
17 34 Jake Kostecki Holden Commodore ZB 26.223s
18 26 Luke Youlden Ford Mustang GT 26.674s
19 4 Jack Smith Holden Commodore ZB 28.850s
20 5 Jack Le Brocq Ford Mustang GT 40.268s
21 44 James Courtney Ford Mustang GT 1 Lap
22 6 Cameron Waters Ford Mustang GT 3 Laps
23 8 Nick Percat Holden Commodore ZB 7 Laps
24 2 Bryce Fullwood Holden Commodore ZB 14 Laps