Shane van Gisbergen, the acclaimed racing driver from Australia, recently criticized the conclusion of the Supercars Championship finale in Adelaide, openly expressing dissatisfaction with how events unfolded, while also outlining his aspirations to cement his Shane van Gisbergen NASCAR legacy as the 2026 season approaches. At the same time, van Gisbergen emphasized the personal significance of his car number and detailed why his new path in NASCAR carries so much meaning.
Van Gisbergen Voices Disappointment Over Supercars Showdown
Widely recognized for his dual status as both competitor and motorsport enthusiast, Shane van Gisbergen made headlines when he reacted candidly to the way the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship wrapped up in Adelaide, Australia. Although now based in the U.S. and racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, van Gisbergen remains invested in major international motorsport events, especially those involving old colleagues and rivals.
As a driver for Trackhouse Racing, he spoke out after following the highly debated Supercars Grand Final, describing the result as unsettling. The series, which attracts widespread attention and is governed by the FIA, has adopted evolving points systems and witnessed changes in both formats and venues over its storied history. The 2025 finale featured over 285,000 attendees and saw Chaz Mostert and Mobil1 Optus Racing claim the driver’s and team titles, with van Gisbergen’s former team Triple Eight Engineering also in contention.
Van Gisbergen explained that watching from afar, the late start times and new points format made it challenging for him, both logistically and emotionally, especially since many of his friends and ex-teammates were involved in the title fight.
“I had no real interest in the racing this year. It was harder to watch. The races were always late Saturday night, and I was in bed watching, ready for my races on Sunday, but I found the finals pretty exciting. It was a little hard to follow with the points, but it led up to Adelaide being quite exciting.”
– Shane van Gisbergen, via Speedcafe
He openly admitted the finale itself triggered mixed feelings, particularly due to longstanding relationships with multiple drivers and the unexpected involvement of a teammate in a pivotal moment.
“The ending was a bit odd, right? So, it’s also hard for me to be unbiased about it, obviously, because my team, that’s my old team. There’s a lot of my old guys working there, and I’m friends with Broc. But also, I like to think I’m friends with Chaz and also Woody as well. And yeah, seeing that happen, a teammate get involved in it, it kind of leaves a bad taste in your mouth,”
SVG added.
While Broc Feeney, who now drives for Triple Eight Engineering, remains a close friend for van Gisbergen, he also expressed his empathy toward Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood of Walkinshaw Andretti United, a traditional rival team. Van Gisbergen’s ongoing involvement with NASCAR has allowed him to see these rivalries from a more neutral perspective, though the emotional stakes remain high given his history with both squads.
The International Reach and Intensity of Supercars Racing
The Supercars Championship, launched as the Repco Supercars Championship in 1997, is a premier touring car series contested primarily in Australia and New Zealand, with past races also held in China, Bahrain, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates. Its events include varying race distances, from fast-paced sprint formats to endurance classics such as The Bend 500 and the Bathurst 1000. Broadcast in over 130 countries, the series commands global interest and features an annual Adelaide Grand Final drawing huge crowds and significant media scrutinty.
Van Gisbergen’s reputation within the Supercars circuit is well established. His transition to NASCAR began in 2025 and was marked by immediate success, including five road course wins, earning him international media attention and deepening his bond with fans both new and old.
Establishing a New NASCAR Identity with #97
As Shane van Gisbergen prepares for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing, the acquisition of the iconic #97 for his car stands as a deeply emotional milestone. Previously running #88 in 2025, van Gisbergen described receiving his family’s traditional racing number as a moving, transformative moment in his stateside career. The #97 not only honors a distinguished lineage within the van Gisbergen family—shared by his father Robert—but also points to the personal legacy SVG hopes to create in the American racing arena.
“Mum would have been absolutely proud,”
read Robert’s letter to him, referencing the recent loss of Shane’s mother in 2024, adding significance to this symbolic gesture.
The importance of this number extends well beyond the racetrack, representing a sense of identity, achievement, and continuity across generations. Drawing parallels with how numbers like 46 for Valentino Rossi and 24 for Jeff Gordon define motorsport legends, van Gisbergen spoke about his aspirations for the #97 in NASCAR.
“So, hopefully, people think of 97 as me. It’s great to have that as my identity. And I guess, it’s been my family race number since I started racing. So, very, very special to have that. It’s been on so many cars that I’ve raced and yeah, amazing. And when you see people with 97 merch, it means a lot to me.”
– Shane van Gisbergen, via Speedcafe
Van Gisbergen’s career in North America continues on an upward trajectory: alongside returning teammate Ross Chastain, he will be joined by Connor Zilisch at Trackhouse Racing for the 2026 season. The support and shared heritage connected to #97 is expected to provide both motivation and a sense of belonging as he embarks on another full-time NASCAR campaign.
What Lies Ahead for Shane van Gisbergen’s Racing Career
As the motorsport calendar turns toward 2026, Shane van Gisbergen stands at a point of both personal and professional reinvention. His willingness to share critical opinions about the Supercars finale underscores his deep connection to the sport’s traditions and fairness, while his focus on building a legacy in NASCAR highlights his determination to leave a lasting mark on racing history.
With the #97 at his side—carrying the weight of family, memory, and ambition—van Gisbergen is primed to further shape the narrative of international motorsport. His journey will be carefully watched by fans of both Supercars and NASCAR, as he chases new heights and seeks to ensure the Shane van Gisbergen NASCAR legacy is worthy of mention among the sport’s greatest stories.
