AFTER smoking the field in both races at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, Shane van Gisbergen saved one last trick for a former rival.
Van Gisbergen celebrated his 21st victory of a dominant 2022 season with a series of donuts at the beachside chicane.
The Kiwi deliberately did so infront of a corporate box where three-time champion Scott McLaughlin was watching on.
Pretty happy with old mates skid @svg97 #racefan pic.twitter.com/AEKp5UEGrv
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin93) October 30, 2022
McLaughlin returned to the Supercars paddock this weekend for the first time since leaving for his new career in IndyCar at the end of 2020.
The two Kiwis had enjoyed a robust but respectful rivalry during their time racing against each other in Supercars.
Asked about his burnout, van Gisbergen said: “I couldn’t do one yesterday, so I did one today.
“Seeing Scotty up there and a bit of encouragement from him… he won a bit of money on me today, so hopefully he gives me some later!”
McLaughlin posted to social media a video showing himself enjoying the moment with friends including former Supercars Head of TV Nathan Prendergast.
What a day pic.twitter.com/0LxoxP45ER
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin93) October 29, 2022
In town to enjoy the race, the Team Penske driver had appeared earlier in the weekend wearing a Pokemon Pikachu outfit.
McLaughlin made an appearance on the Fox Sports broadcast on Friday ahead of a role in the TV coverage at the Adelaide 500, and was full of praise for van Gisbergen.
“He’s been awesome to watch – he’s in a league of his own right now,” McLaughlin said.
“He’s got that confidence. It should be enjoyed, everyone up and down pit lane, they raise that level.
“Me, Jamie [Whincup] and Shane, we all just kept raising the bar, we kept working and pushing each other all the way.
“When you have a guy at the peak of their powers, you raise everyone to another level.
“The thing Shane’s doing differently to everyone else is it’s week in, week out.
“Big props to him… we have a ton of respect for each other. We had some ding dong battles… but at the same time, he’s one of the best guys I’ve ever raced.”
