Shane van Gisbergen, renowned for his success in the Supercars Championship across Australia and New Zealand, has recently drawn attention for his candid comparison of NASCAR and Supercars. After shifting his racing career to North America, van Gisbergen now finds himself as a major contender in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, making the Shane van Gisbergen NASCAR Supercars comparison particularly timely as he pursues a championship.
With three Cup Series victories already under his belt and a secured playoff position, van Gisbergen has demonstrated that his transition to NASCAR has only increased both his profile and the competitive demands he faces. Following his recent win in Chicago, he sat down with Kevin Harvick during the Happy Hour show to discuss the specific challenges that set NASCAR apart from his Supercars roots.
Grind and Preparation: Weekly Variety Makes NASCAR Intense
Van Gisbergen emphasized how the unrelenting nature of the NASCAR season sets it apart, explaining that each week brings new variables and tracks that require constant adaptation. In Supercars, drivers face more predictable conditions, but in NASCAR, from venues like Pocono to Martinsville and Las Vegas, staying on top demands exceptional preparation and focus.
“It’s probably more intense, because it’s every single week and the challenge is so different every week,”
SVG told Harvick.
“Like it’s not like you’re doing mile-and-a-halves each week, you’re doing a different style of racetrack every single week, and the preparation and stuff is so different. Also, instead of seeing two teammates’ data, I can see everyone’s data. So, it’s a lot more intense.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR Driver
Such exhaustive exposure to real-time performance data for all drivers, instead of the limited access he had in Supercars, adds to the mental workload. Instead of analyzing a select few competitors, van Gisbergen—and every NASCAR driver—must now digest strategies and driving styles from a large field each race weekend, including standouts like Denny Hamlin at tricky ovals or Chase Elliott at Martinsville.
“On a road course, I hate it, because everyone can see my stuff and it’s all people seem to be talking about on the weekend. But especially when you go to a Pocono or a Martinsville, you study someone like Denny Hamlin, who’s amazing at those tracks, and the tendencies he has, or Chase Elliott at Martinsville. There’s some guys who really stand out. But when you go to like a Vegas or something, it could be anyone. You know, so there’s so much stuff you got to look at now.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR Driver
Adjusting to the Machinery: Technical Shifts from Supercars to NASCAR
The technical demands also differ, even if, on paper, the cars share similarities. Van Gisbergen shared that nuances in car setup and driving technique have forced him to alter habits established over a long Supercars career. One crucial difference he highlighted is the type of differential used; while Supercars required unique “heel and toe” techniques and heavy use of rear brake due to a locked rear differential, NASCAR’s open differential and preference for front brake force a different approach.
“But the way they drive, I think the lock-diff is the biggest difference. Having an open diff here makes a big difference. You know, you don’t have to — the technique was so unique in a supercar, with the heel and toe and running all the rear brake you could. It’s a bit opposite in this car. You run as much front as you can. People make a big deal out of the right-foot braking, but it really does nothing in this car.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR Driver
This adjustment from technical procedures in Australia and New Zealand to the style required across NASCAR’s diverse tracks in North America has kept the former Supercars champion honing his craft and studying his competitors intensely.
High Expectations as Van Gisbergen Chases Another Win
As his experience in NASCAR grows, van Gisbergen has quickly become recognized for raising the level of competition, particularly on road courses. He now has an opportunity to secure a third win this season as the Cup Series moves to Sonoma in California—a locale known for challenging drivers with its technical corners and elevation changes.
The comparison between Supercars and NASCAR may continue to generate debate, but van Gisbergen’s insights offer fans a unique glimpse into the demands of both racing worlds. Continuing his rise from prominent Supercars driver to NASCAR Cup Series contender, he is poised not only to influence the outcome of this year’s championship, but to define what it means to adapt and excel across the international motorsport stage.
