Shane van Gisbergen came under fire for his post-race refusal to answer any questions at the press conference. Photo / Supercars
Shane van Gisbergen came under fire for his post-race refusal to answer any questions at the press conference. Photo / Supercars
On top of one of the most dramatic weekends of his life, Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen has now been labelled disrespectful.
In a wild 24 hours, the superstar Kiwi was sensationally stripped of his Race 1 victory at the Newcastle 500 following a protest.
Triple Eight was found guilty of breaching rules due to an incorrect application of dry ice as a cooling device.
On Sunday he was at the centre of another moment of high drama after he made late contact with rival Chaz Mostert on his way to claiming victory in Race 2.
Van Gisbergen refused to redress his position late in the race and Mostert sensationally followed suit by giving van Gisbergen’s Chevrolet Camaro a nudge.
The contact was the biggest talking point to emerge from the race, but a clearly angry van Gisbergen was in no mood to talk about it.
The Red Bull Ampol Racing driver gave Fox Sports presenter Jess Yates a cold response immediately after the race when asked about the drama.
He was even icier in the post-race press conference.
As reported by foxsports.com.au, van Gisbergen at one point put his hand up and bluntly refused to answer questions directed to him by Supercars press conference moderator Chad Neylon. He also pushed his microphone away when finishing one of his curt responses.
Shane van Gisbergen came under fire for his post-race refusal to answer any questions at the press conference. Photo / Supercars
Neylon: Shane, bouncing back, I imagine there was a bit of disappointment with the team today so did that make today’s race win even a little bit sweeter?
SVG: So basically just repeat what I said on track (to Yates), thanks to my team, our cars were awesome but all our talking was done on the track so thank you.
Neylon: Nah mate, it’s a press conference. We’ve got to ask you questions.
SVG: (Looks bemused) All the talking was done on track today, thank you.
Journo: Mate c’mon. Are you serious?
SVG: Yeah.
Thanks team, our cars were awesome, all our talking was done on track today 😀👍 pic.twitter.com/AL3RT55pms
Supercars icon Mark Skaife was scathing of van Gisbergen’s behaviour.
“We’ve been in some pretty tense press conferences over the years … but when you’re the champ, you have an ambassador’s role in this sport,” Skaife said.
“Although you might not want to make any more comment, you actually have a duty as a custodian of the sport to say what you need to say about the result and what’s gone on today.
“He won’t be liking disqualification from yesterday. He’s come in today angry about how it is, but there is a duty of care.
“There is something about being the champion driver and the ambassador for the sport.
“If you’re a media person from anywhere in this country and you want a comment about Supercar racing, the first person you ask is Shane van Gisbergen.
“He has a duty. As one of the highest-paid, the absolute bloke who has been the benchmark operator. He is extraordinary, maybe one of the best drivers ever – I call him Jim Richards-like but you do off the track have a duty and that’s not right.
“You can have a villain … but what there is is a real distinction between being the bad guy and villain. You never heard an Allan Moffat or Russell Ingall not answer a question in a press conference.
“They might not have been as liked as Peter Brock who was the golden child of this stuff, but at any point there is a duty.”
