Shane van Gisbergen Journey: Supercars standout Shane van Gisbergen has expressed his aspirations to gather invaluable experience before a potential full-time shift to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025.
“I want to soak up as much experience as I can and aim for the Cup Series in ’25,” stated van Gisbergen during a recent interview.
The 34-year-old made a striking entry into American racing earlier this year. Debuting at the Chicago Street Course in his first-ever NASCAR event, he clinched an impressive third-place starting position on the grid.
His debut couldn’t have been more spectacular, securing a remarkable victory, becoming just the seventh driver ever to achieve such a feat. This triumph also marked him as only the sixth non-American-born driver to claim victory in the prestigious Cup Series.
Following this triumph, van Gisbergen continued to impress, securing a second top-10 finish in his second Cup race held in Indianapolis. Further expanding his horizons, he ventured into the Truck Series and made his Oval course debut at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
While not committing full-time to NASCAR just yet, the three-time Supercars Championship victor has inked a deal with Trackhouse Racing, paving the way for participation in a developmental schedule across all NASCAR divisions in 2024. His goal remains crystal clear – accumulate experiences in the American racing sphere to potentially secure a full-time opportunity come 2025.
While specifics of his upcoming schedule are pending, van Gisbergen hinted at a busy calendar for the upcoming season. “It seems like I’ll be tackling quite a few races,” he remarked, addressing the anticipated part-time schedule of approximately 20 races, a considerable leap from his typical commitments.
Turning his attention momentarily back to Supercars, van Gisbergen is slated to return to action later this month in the championship. This could potentially mark his final race in the Australian competition for the foreseeable future.
Despite his quest to diversify, the defending three-time champion remains in contention for a fourth title in the season finale. However, Brodie Kostecki of Erebus Motorsport heads into the Adelaide race as the frontrunner.
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