The three-time Supercars champion will depart the Aussie sequence on the finish of the present season as he seems to be to construct a brand new profession in NASCAR.
He has already made a successful begin to inventory automotive racing with victory on the streets of Chicago, and can make a primary oval begin within the Truck Collection this Friday night time earlier than a second Cup Collection begin on Sunday.
Talking forward of these subsequent two outings, van Gisbergen opened up on the variations in racing tradition between NASCAR and Supercars.
He stated the Chicago weekend reminded him of how enjoyable and well-natured the US paddocks are, one thing he feels is missing in Supercars in the meanwhile.
“After qualifying in Chicago, we have been speaking that night time,” he stated.
“Dad was there and stuff… and simply how enjoyable the occasion was, the ambiance, the vehicles within the paddock just below tents, accessible to everybody, you may see everybody’s stuff. It’s a complete completely different world.
“I bear in mind doing the Rolex 24 a couple of years in the past and also you simply neglect how a lot enjoyable the race tradition is in America. It is intense and the swap flicks when it is time to go and get severe. However everybody’s right here racing for the correct causes and having fun with it.
Shane van Gisbergen, Triple Eight Race Engineering Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Photograph by: Edge Photographics
“That is simply a lot enjoyable, and we’ve sort of been lacking that a little bit bit in Australia recently.”
That van Gisbergen is considerably jaded with Supercars isn’t any nice shock given he has made little secret that he’s no fan of the brand new Gen3 vehicles, one thing that drew the ire of prime sequence officers on the season opener in Newcastle.
In response to feedback towards this, van Gisbergen staged a silent protest after successful that Sunday’s race.
There was then some confusion over the announcement of a brand new cope with Triple Eight that was offered as a multi-year association earlier than he clarified that it really solely coated 2024.
There was extra rigidity with the staff in Townsville not too long ago when van Gisbergen was ordered to let teammate Broc Feeney via late in Sunday’s race.
On the similar time, van Gisbergen has made it clear that his intention to depart Supercars on the finish of this season is just not based mostly on any disharmony with the staff, and that he’s actively engaged in serving to discover a appropriate substitute.
Van Gisbergen, nonetheless, did supply some reward to Supercars, reiterating his stance that the sequence breeds drivers aggressive sufficient to achieve NASCAR.
That comes as Brodie Kostecki readies himself for his NASCAR debut on the Indianapolis highway course this weekend, whereas Tickford ace Cam Waters can be eyeing a Stateside transfer.
“Brodie is one other one who’s been vocal about desirous to be in right here, and Cam Waters got here and watched a race a few months in the past, he desires to return over and have a crack,” stated van Gisbergen.
“I feel he’d be excellent for it, and hopefully my end in Chicago and the way we go this weekend retains opening doorways for us Kiwis and Aussies to return over right here and have a crack.
“It’s a protracted world away, it’s arduous to look exterior your bubble typically, however I feel there’s a spot right here for us – our sequence may be very aggressive so hopefully we will come and succeed right here.”
Extra reporting by Charles Bradley