Reigning Hyundai X3 Series Queensland champion Brock Giblin is on track to reach his goal of becoming the first driver in the series to win multiple titles.
Picking up his maiden win in 2017 – a massive relief for both Giblin and his father who had work tirelessly in getting him there – the 21-year-old is currently sitting fourth outright, trailing series leader Richard Peasey by 36 points.
A win at the opening round of the season in March was marred by a disappointing tenth in the second round when Giblin was forced to drive a different car after small accident required maintenance to his championship winning car.
“I had an accident at Bathurst between rounds and had just two weeks to build another car before the second round,” Giblin explained.
“Once competing, I couldn’t get used to the new car or put a good time in and it’s hard when you’re in a brand new car competing against the best of the best.
“I am confident that if I had last year’s car, I would have won the round.
“For the next round at the Shannons Nationals, I will be racing with it again and after two recent test rounds at Queensland Raceway, we are definitely looking good for a good result.”
With the Nationals fast approaching and top spot up for grabs, Giblin is more than aware of how important the round’s result is in reaching his goal.
“My goal is to be the first driver to win the championship twice and to do that, I can’t afford to drop any more points and I can’t afford a bad result,” Giblin said.
“I just have to be careful and be consistent and really focus on finishing higher than anyone else.
“This coming round is probably the most important round of the year, obviously you want to win every round, I am very competitive person and I am just built that way.”
It’s been a long road to success for Giblin after he was involved in a very serious accident in 2014, when he rolled his Mazda 3 several times, ending up upside down at the apex of the corner.
Four years later, the Queenslander is now a state champion of the X3 series and gunning for his second title in as many years.
Winning the title wasn’t easy for Giblin, whose long road to the title began with a lengthy stay in hospital recovering from his injuries.
“I spent all of 2015 and 2016 recuperating, getting the car right and with the aim to really stomp into it in 2017,” Giblin explained.
“Once I got into my first test run four months after the accident, I had to practically learn how to drive again.
“It’s amazing how much you forget if you don’t do it.”
Giblins and the The Hyundai X3 Series Queensland are one of five categories to take place across the two days with a qualifying on day one setting up three 20-minute races.
The Shannons Nationals takes places at Queensland Raceway in Ipswich on 27-29 July, with live coverage of Sunday’s session once again to be available for viewing via speedseries.com.au.
