27 Mar 2010

Young NZ driver third first up in Melbourne V8s

6:55 am on 27 March 2010

Young New Zealand driver Shane Van Gisbergen's continued his super start to the V8 Supercar season with a third place in the opening race at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

It's the 20-year-old's third podium in four rounds, Gisbergen coming in behind fellow Ford driver James Courtney and pole sitter Garth Tander in the first 13-lap race of the non-championship Supercar Challenge at Albert Park.

Van Gisbergen held off a determined Craig Lowndes to score third place with defending two-time V8 Supercar Champion Jamie Whincup one place further back.

The V8s are back on track tonight for the second of three races.