Another race, another win by Shane van Gisbergen in the V8 Supercars non-championship round at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
And now the flying Kiwi is starting to believe he can turn exhibition form into serious championship points when the season officially resumes in Tasmania from March 28 after sealing a stunning three-peat on Saturday.
Van Gisbergen has claimed a three-peat at Albert Park after emerging from a drama-charged 12-lap sprint.
He was never headed, finishing half a second ahead of fellow Holden driver Fabian Coulthard and series leader Craig Lowndes.
Pole sitter Van Gisbergen’s pace ensured he was well clear of the race’s major incident on the opening lap.
Ford young gun Chaz Mostert was turned around by Holden’s Garth Tander and then sensationally t-boned by Holden’s Dale Wood, warranting the race’s only yellow flag.
Both Mostert and Wood were part of the four-car contingent that failed to finish the third race.
Van Gisbergen had already earned comparisons with five-time V8 champion Jamie Whincup from touring car great Lowndes after dominating the opening two races.
And it seems van Gisbergen is also starting to believe after extending his unbeaten run in Melbourne.
“As a team we can gain a lot of confidence from this,” he said.
“Pace-wise we are good, we just have to keep it up.
“Hopefully it will be a similar story in the championship rounds.”
In contrast, Whincup was seventh in a worrying sign ahead of the next official championship round in Tasmania from March 28-30.
No one doubted van Gisbergen’s talent but the jury was out on how he would handle an ongoing off-field battle.
In late 2012 the flying Kiwi sensationally retired at 23 after his former Ford team became Mercedes’ Erebus Motorsport.
Barely a month later van Gisbergen backtracked and signed with Holden’s Tekno Autosports earning the ire of the cashed up Erebus team.
He was then threatened with legal action that looked set to prevent him from racing.
Fast forward a year and van Gisbergen is still racing but admits nothing has changed off track in what he dubs a game of “legal tennis” between himself and the Erebus team.
Unconscionable Conduct proceedings were formally instigated in the Federal Court by Erebus in mid-2013.
The court is reportedly continuing to gather evidence from concerned parties.
Meanwhile, Volvo’s Scott McLaughlin completed his third straight top five finish with a fourth placing in race three on Saturday.
The fourth and final V8 race in Melbourne will be held from 1315 AEDT on Sunday.