Motorsport: Shane van Gisbergen stripped of season-opening Supercars win after protests against Red Bull cars

Shane van Gisbergen has been stripped of his season-opening Supercars victory, after protests about the legality of his car.

On Saturday, reigning champion van Gisbergen and teammate Broc Feeney claimed a one-two finish in the season's opening race in Newcastle.

However, two separate protests were lodged against the two cars - van Gisbergen's No.97 and Feeney's No.88, challenging their cooling systems.

Shane van Gisbergen's Red Bull.
Shane van Gisbergen's Red Bull. Photo credit: Getty Images

Tickford Racing and Walkinshaw Andretti United were the two teams that lodged the appeals against the two Red Bull Ampol cars.

A hearing held on Saturday night has gone against the two Red Bull cars, upholding the two appeals from Tickford and WAU.

Both Tickford and WAU presented evidence that dry ice was added to both cars during their respective pit stops.

As a result, the stewards ruled against Red Bull, and penalised both van Gisbergen and Feeney, resulting in two disqualifications.

Instead, Tickford's Cam Waters has been awarded the race win, with WAU's Chaz Mostert moved from fourth to second. Brodie Kostecki has been upgraded from fifth to complete the podium places.

Red Bull have confirmed they will appeal the disqualifications, team manager Mark Dutton confirmed.

Dutton says he was assured of the legality of the move by Supercars head of motorsport Adrian Burgess, but did not get written clarification.

Both van Gisbergen and Feeney now face a wait to learn if the disqualifications will stand, while Supercars prepares for the second race of the season on Sunday afternoon.