Van Gisbergen a ‘perfect fit’ for Triple Eight

Van Gisbergen effectively replaced Craig Lowndes in Red Bull colours for the 2016 season, slotting in alongside Jamie Whincup while Lowndes was shifted to a ‘third’ car, run under the TeamVortex banner.

While the addition of van Gisbergen to the line-up has increased the intra-team competition at T8 – all three drivers have won races so far this season – Dutton says the early signs of the working relationship between the rapid Kiwi and the team are good.

“He’s slotted straight in. He’s a good bloke, he’s not a prima donna, he’s a fun guy, and he enjoys what he does,” Dutton told Motorsport.com.

More is better

Van Gisbergen’s addition to the team is effectively the first change to the driver line-up since Whincup joined Lowndes in Triple Eight colours ahead of the 2006 season.

While the team was hardly in need of fresh impetus, and Dutton says there has been no major change in approach, he does admit that there is something nice about having strength in numbers.

“It’s good just to have a third opinion,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a huge change that he’s brought, so it’s not what I’d call a breath of fresh air from our perspective. But more is better, particularly when you’re in control of it.

“We always had the satellite teams, but it’s not the same as having three [cars] in-house.”

And with van Gisbergen’s programme also including the Blancpain Endurance Series with McLaren, Dutton says he’s expecting that outside experience to also pay dividends at some stage.

“All the other racing he’s doing around the world, that still will at some point have an impact,” he said.

“He’ll say ‘hey, I saw this or that’, so it keeps us in touch with the wider world. It helps keep us up to date.

“It’s little things like that that will always filter through, and it’s very positive.”