The Darrell Lea STIX Commodore driver sits fifth in the championship after five of 14 rounds, and said the Far North Queensland event is a challenge he embraces.
 
“I love the Townsville 400. The stakes are high and I’ve always gone well in it,” Van Gisbergen said.
 
“It’s a unique track because it starts like a street circuit but there’s also purpose built sections and several surface changes over a lap. It makes it really interesting.”
 
Van Gisbergen has finished on the podium for the past two years in the #97 TEKNO Autosports Commodore, and was in the top five in all three races last year.
 
The Kiwi said the 2.86km circuit demands focus.
 
“You have to be on the ball every lap. Townsville is very unforgiving if you drop your guard,” Van Gisbergen said.
 
“Circuits like Reid Park reward pushing hard, but there’s no room for error because there’s concrete everywhere.”
 
Van Gisbergen knows he and the TEKNO Autosports team can dig deeper in the back half of the season.
 
“We showed at Darwin that the new #97 Darrell Lea STIX Commodore is quick, and it’s time we convert the speed we’ve had all year into results,” Van Gisbergen.
 
“It’s been a consistent start to the season, and we’ve been doing what we need to for the title chase but I know we can be further up the front.”
 
The Townsville 400 feature races 16 and 17 of the 2015 V8 Supercars Championship, each over 70-laps. 

Practice, qualifying and races will be shown live and in HD on Fox Sports from Friday on, while Channel 10 will broadcast Saturday and Sunday's action live from 10am AEST. Check your local TV guides for more details.