The world of Shane Van Gisbergen has changed. Literally, in a geographical sense.
Barely a year and a half ago, Trackhouse Racing by Nascar and his co -owner Justin Marks presented Van Gisbergen to American stock-car fans During the first rue de Chicago race – inviting the Triple Australian Supercars champion for a unique visit to the other end of the world and, by the way, on the other side of the cockpit.
The stars could not have aligned themselves better. It was a tight urban course, which suited Van Gisbergen’s expectations. skills set. It was also an unknown journey of all Nascar pilots, so there was no advantage “on the ground” linked to familiarity. Then it rained, and running in the rain on a wet track could have been a culture shock for many, but not for the man known throughout the paddock under the name of SVG.
He won the race and since then, nothing is the same. With more and more road races registered at NASCAR hours and an obvious Ace of the road race suddenly interested in NASCAR – and vice versa – The wheels began to turn and shortly later, Trackhouse had concluded an agreement.
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The team initially planned to concoct a 2024 calendar involving a handful of races in various series, but it quickly turned into a full -time Xfinity series with a dozen cutting races included. He won three Xfinity races, all on road routes, over a period of six races at the start of the summer, and his best cup result was a second place in Watkins Glen.
During his cup adventures, he found himself in the largest accident in the Cup Series in history, when more than two dozen cars had all or part of a “big one” in Talladega.
This year, he goes full time in Cup Series while Trackhouse extends to three cars, adding a Chevrolet n ° 88 to the list – the veterans of Trackhouse Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez are his teammates. SVG begins its 2025 season by sharing a corvette during the Rolex 24 of this weekend in Daytona. He is no stranger to the Rolex, having already made six departures.
He recently arrived in Daytona Beach with the Rolex in the foreground, but the discussions also focused on his possible return in February, the challenge that follows and the way in which her new house-north of Charlotte in Mooresville -differs from Australia and its native New Zealand.
Shane Van Gisbergen had no intention in nascar in 2023
Newspaper: When you went to Chicago in 2023, was a Nascar career on your radar?
Svg: “A month or two before this race, I had signed a contract to continue running in Australia. So I did not intend to go to Nascar. It was just a unique race, but it worked.
“My life has made a complete 180 ° turn, but it was very pleasant and cool experiences, and it’s good to try something different.”
NEW JERSEY: Not even the temporary idea of trying Nascar?
Svg: “No, none at all.”
NEW JERSEY: Obvious question, but what was the greatest transition?
SVG: “Races every week. And the oval. The oval thing is crazy. The short things for which I am ok, and the superspeedways, but the intermediaries are ridiculous – the speeds they go and the way the cars behave. The cutting car on paper should be better for me, but I will discover it.
NEW JERSEY: Do you think you adapted to daily life here?
SVG: “Living beings are fine. It’s a little different when you move for the first time, but once installed, everything is fine. And I spent summer in New Zealand.
New Jersey: It’s true, our winter is your summer at home.
SVG: “Yes, so I’m coming back here and it’s (time) terrible. I would have liked to stay at home a little longer.
Shane Van Gisbergen Ready for the “epic” atmosphere of Daytona 500
New Jersey: Your first Daytona 500 is approaching. What do you think of that?
SVG: “I’m not trying to let myself be carried away by the threshing media of this kind of thing. I remember watching her last year. Even if it was a Monday, the atmosphere was epic. I try not to be surprised, but it will be a rather cool experience, I imagine.
NEW JERSEY: You did some “restriction plate” shopping on superspeedways last year. What do you think of this form of race?
Svg: “I don’t know. I have the impression that you are a lamb at the slaughterhouse, queuing, ready to have a big accident. It’s fun sometimes, you know, when it’s four. But you know that it can go wrong in an instant and that it will not be fun.
“I had a big success here (Daytona) in Xfinity, and it is not so pleasant. I had the biggest fall of all time (Talladega), but I did well.
NEW JERSEY: Depending on the modern standards of drivers, you are practically a giant. What is your official size and weight?
SVG: “6-3, 215 or 220 pounds.”
NEW JERSEY: Are there any advantages to be greater than others?
SVG: “No, it’s always negative as a driver.”
NEW JERSEY: From the outside, Trackhouse and Justin Marks seem to be a good group to join. What is Justin’s secret?
SVG: “Just his attitude towards everything, how far he is. When I did Chicago, it was supposed to be only one race. Then we did the next race at Indy, shortly after. He said, “I can prepare something for you. It is mainly for ’25’. But in 24, I could do three cutting races and seven XFINITY races, with the promise of 2025.
“I believed in him. It turned into a complete Xfinity season and 12 cutting races, which is much more than what I expected. Then the commitment he made to seek another charter and to constitute a whole team around 88 and me.
“It inspires me too. For me, that’s what I needed. It became a little obsolete in Australia. It was a good time in my life. Before being too old, I can try something else.
Objectives in NASCAR CUP Series for SVG?
NEW JERSEY: You quickly became a fans favorite.
SVG: “It was great. I think that in America, you can also be yourself, say what you want.
NEW JERSEY: This is not the case with us?
Svg: “No, you are simply arrested. If Denny Hamlin was in Australia, he would be expelled. But here … he polarizes, but people accept it and love him for whom he is. You couldn’t be like Denny in Australia, saying your opinion, which could be a hard truth. People here accept you because you are yourself.
NEW JERSEY: What were the big changes between an Australian supercar and a stock because Nascar?
SVG: “The NASCAR car has no doors. No windows. It’s strange to feel the air in the car. Being on the other side (cockpit) is probably the biggest difference. And the gearbox is different. It’s good when it is sequential. When it is a H reason, it is more difficult.
NEW JERSEY: Objectives for 2025 in nascar?
SVG: “Finish with a smile on his lips. »»
NEW JERSEY: Are you saying it didn’t happen sometimes?
SVG: “A lot.”
New Jersey: Could it be the years when you have not won a lot of shopping and a championship?
Svg: “No. Last year was one of the best years of my life and I ended about 50th. But I had so much fun. You work all the time with good people who just like to run.
This article was initially published in the Daytona Beach News-Journal: Shane Van Gisbergen talks about Daytona 500, Nascar and Denny Hamlin | Questions and answers
