And just like that, it’s Adelaide week…
It felt like only yesterday we were sipping Red Bulls on Newcastle harbour rounding out another hard-fought Supercars season. Where has the time gone?
Fast forward 87 days from Race 32 in Newcastle, and the RBHRT crew have been working tirelessly over the season ‘break’ to ensure we kick off Season 2020 at the front of the grid.
So, Bulls fans, fear not! Over are those long summer days of lying on the couch rigorously flicking through the channel list on Sunday arvo looking to fuel those Supercars cravings, having to settle for test cricket or mixed doubles tennis…not as exciting, we know. But Adelaide week is here, and those smooth sounds of rumbling V8 engines will be back soothing your eardrums in no time.
Packed in our freshly stickered Iveco truck is very precious cargo; Lindsay (#88) and Chastitii (#97) – our two Bulls ready to charge down the streets of Adelaide. The latter being Shane ‘SVG’ van Gisbergen’s brand new chariot, which has already been through its paces during a shakedown at Queensland Raceway, passing with flying colours.
For SVG, we wouldn’t call his off-season a quiet one…(no, we’re not talking about his late nights out on Surfers Paradise Boulevard during the summer break). It’s been tough for SVG to let go of the steering wheel over the last 87 days. You name it, if it has an engine and four wheels, no doubt SVG has flogged the guts out of it.
“Basically, I’ve just been racing,” SVG said.
“January has been really busy for me clocking up lots of miles in cars, and because of that I’m feeling prepared and ready for the V8 season.”
To say SVG is raring to go for the 2020 season would be understatement of the year.
“I’m ready to start fresh.
“Last year we finished really strong – both cars were really quick, and we were able to get a lot of race wins towards the back end of the season so hopefully we can carry that momentum.
“There’s a few changes this year with the aero, suspension but hopefully we can get it figured out relatively quick and get into the racing.”
Jamie ‘JDub’ Whincup’s off season was been a little more subdued. After a late-season charge in 2019 with four race wins from the last seven races, JDub is looking to continue his form into 2020, and wants to ensure RBHRT are back in the hunt for both the drivers’ and teams’ championships.
“We were certainly very strong towards the end of the year so we’re hoping we roll out nice and quick this year and put our best foot forward.
“Our emphasis is to make sure we can still evolve the cars – still keep going with what we were doing at the end of last year, and keep grinding away; month, after month, after month to make the car as competitive as any.”
Commenting on the team’s workload during the off season, which included the Bathurst 12 Hour where Triple Eight Race Engineering claimed third place, JDub was heaping praise on the efforts of the entire team.
“On paper, the resources we have here [Red Bull Holden Racing Team] and the personnel we have here, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be as competitive as anyone.
“From here on in, we’ll be head down, making sure we have a better start to this year’s season to what we did last year.”
Following the Supercars SuperTest at Tailem Bend, the team now heads to Adelaide where all the action from the Adelaide 500 begins Thursday 20th February.