Though a second Virgin Australia Supercars Championship eluded this year’s runner-up Shane van Gisbergen, the Red Bull Holden Racing Team driver has won his first Barry Sheene Medal. 

The New Zealand driver was presented with the prestigious award during the championship’s annual Gala Awards dinner, becoming just the ninth driver to be awarded the ‘best and fairest’ honour.

Named in honour of former motorcycle world champion and popular Supercars commentator, the late Barry Sheene, the award is voted on by Australia’s leading motor sport journalists for a driver’s year both on and off the track.

On track, van Gisbergen finished off the 2019 season with four pole positions, twelve podium finishes and five race wins.

However, it was the 30-year-old’s off-track demeanour that heavily contributed to the award, most notably his selfless act during the Vodafone Gold Coast 600 where he stopped during a session to provide assistance to Scott McLaughlin who had rolled. 

Despite not taking out his second Supercars title, the 2016 champion was thrilled to be awarded the award in front of his peers.

“I actually had this conversation last night and the discussion was my chances of winning this are about how I feel right now, written off!” van Gisbergen told Supercars post-event.

“I do struggle with the media stuff but the people around me have helped me show who I am. Thanks to the Red Bull Holden Racing Team and everybody involved. 

“Thanks to my family for my grounding and all the people who helped me coming through, Stone Brothers for giving me my first shot, Tekno and now Red Bull.

“I love my career, love what I do for a job. The sport has been through some tough times this year as a whole, hopefully we start from zero next year and have some fun.”

van Gisbergen wasn’t the only person to go home with some silverware from the event with 2019 champion McLaughlin named as both the Drivers’ driver of the year and the fan-voted Favourite Driver award.

The Vodafone Gold Coast 600 celebrated its 29th running with a record crowd as well as the best event for 2019, while Penrite Racing was awarded the fan-voted Best Presented Team Award.

The Virgin Australia Supercars Championship will now have the summer off before retuning in February for the Superloop Adelaide 500.