Shane Van Gisbergen is having a great season, clinching the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and conquering the coveted V8 Supercars title. Now the 27-year old Kiwi is one of the three title candidates for the Intercontinental GT Challenge drivers’ title, and is only six points down on championship leader Laurens Vanthoor.
“I’ll try to seal a great year for me here in Sepang”, the newly crowned Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup winner states. “It’s been fantastic, not only with McLaren, but also in V8. I think McLaren have won every major championship they have competed in this year. To get another one would be cool for the team. It’s a shame that next year there are so many date clashes, otherwise I would love to race for this team again in 2017. Hopefully I can come back the next year and go racing again. Because I really like GT racing: my Supercar events are so intense and so tough, and while GT racing is still fierce on track as well, it’s a lot more enjoyable.”
“I don’t know what to expect from the Motul Sepang 12 Hours”, Van Gisbergen grins. “It was a last minute decision for me to race here, and I’m sure the heat will be my toughest competitor. It’s so hot, and not pleasant at all, but it is what it is and we’ll do our best.”
The start of the Motul Sepang 12 Hours will be given on Saturday noon (UTC +8), so just after midnight we will know both who will be the winner of the 2017 edition of the Asian endurance classic and who will be the champions of the inaugural Intercontinental GT Challenge. The race will be streamed live on both the Intercontinental GT Challenge and Motul Sepang 12 Hours websites.