DON'T stress, deal with it and move on - in a season which has presented a whole host of unique challenges that is the approach which Shane van Gisbergen has adopted.
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While it didn't see him avoid some small drama in the opening practice session for this year's Bathurst 1000, it is still an approach which has served him well.
Van Gisbergen was in New Zealand this year when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, so as well as there being uncertainty about the season ahead, there was also the issue of getting back to Australia should racing resume.
It is a situation which may have worried some, but not van Gisbergen.
"I don't really stress about that stuff, like whatever happens happens, you've just got to deal," he said.
As it was racing resumed and after serving two weeks in self isolation in June when he returned to Australia, van Gisbergen was back in action. He reached his 400th start milestone at Darwin.
"We've all had to adapt that's the way it's been this year, it's all been a little bit crazy. But everyone's the same, we've all been travelling on the road together and all the teams have been going through it," he said
"The racing itself has still been pretty awesome and full on, it's been really cool racing."
It was no so much cool racing in the opening practice session at the Mount when van Gisbergen was involved in a incident with DJR Team Penske co-driver Tim Slade at Forrest's Elbow.
The two cars made contact, but again van Gisbergen was not too stressed about it as no major damage was done.
"It was a bit of an awkward one. He was pretty slow and I was on a lap but held out, gave him some space and just waited for him down the hill," he said.
"Then as we got the the Elbow I made my intention clear to pass him down the inside, he went super wide, saw me, but then come across.
"But all good, he's trying to get laps and get going and he was super slow, I thought he'd seen me but obviously he hadn't. That's the thing, I feel for these co-drivers because they haven't done many laps, it's going to be tough for them."
Van Gisbergen, who is sitting fourth in the championship, is hoping to avoid any more drama and having some "awesome battles" at Mount Panorama as the event unfolds.
His best lap in practice one was a 2:06.8215. It put him 20th on the list of fastest times, but he knows Thursday morning's first session was just the start.
He has a well credentialed co-driver in Garth Tander - they placed second together last year - and the pace of his #97 Holden has improved after some mid-season struggles.
"Our race pace is awesome so we've got as good a shot as anyone, it just comes down to preparation. So we've been prepping hard, hopefully we turn up with a good set up, we've been trying to come up with directions and theories what's going to be best, so for sure our car is going to be quick, but we have to make sure that everything's right, leave no stone unturned and have a red hot go," he said.
