After years of dominance in the Supercar arena, Shane van Gisbergen is now turning heads in NASCAR. In 2023, Gisbergen stunned the motorsports world with his debut Cup Series victory at the Chicago Street Race. This triumph set the tone for his NASCAR career, leading to a full-time Cup Series appearance in 2025, where he will drive the iconic No. 88 car for Trackhouse Racing.

As anticipation builds for his NASCAR journey, Gisbergen’s former boss, Roland Dane, spoke about his decision. He revealed what motivated Gisbergen to leave his homeland and shift to another part of the world. Dane also summed up SVG’s decision in three words.

Roland Dane reveals Shane van Gisbergen’s motivation

Three-time Supercar champion Shane van Gisbergen made a bold leap from dominating the tracks in Australia to making waves in the United States. After a successful run in Chicago with Project 91, Gisbergen decided to shift his base to the US from his homeland. Back in his native, this decision shocked many. However, his ex-boss, Roland Dane, reveals the motivation behind his decision.

In the latest episode of KTM Summer Grill, Dane said, “Yeah, I mean to be fair to everyone you know from fan base, from a media point of view, from Shane’s point of view. I mean, to be honest, he’d outgrown Australia, he’d outgrown it, he’d raced around the world. He was coming back here and to just do the same thing again and for some drivers that’s what they want to do in life. But if you roll back to another era, you know in the 80s for instance Australian local Superstar drivers were going off and driving in Europe and or whatever or you know talking to Dick Johnson the other week at the airport about going and driving at Watkins Glenn in a NASCAR back whenever. So, Shane has been very keen to go and travel around the world and race cars for a long time. You know he won the endurance Blanc pain cup, as it was then in 2016 in Europe. So, I think for him he just outgrown Australia, and it was time to do something do something else and move on to a new environment. “

What Dane intended to point out was that the NASCAR path wasn’t completely new for Australian drivers. When thinking of Australian drivers in NASCAR, the first name that comes to mind is Marcus Ambrose. He clinched two Supercars titles before going to America at the end of 2005 for NASCAR. Making his way through the ranks, he eventually found success at Watkins Glen, winning at the track in 2011 and 2012 before returning to Supercars. Similarly, Dick Johnson also had a stint in NASCAR back when it was called the Winston Cup in 1989 and 1990. Cut to a few decades later, SVG is following in their footsteps, with success and some setbacks.

Notably, Gisbergen’s journey to NASCAR success hasn’t been without struggles. Adjusting to a new country, a different racing culture and the intense competition of the US motorsports scene posed significant challenges. Speaking about it, he had said, “Yeah, apart from that (winters), it’s pretty good, but yeah, I’ve actually been a little bored the last couple of weeks. It’s pretty brutal racing every week, but it’s awesome.”

Apart from his Supercar success, SVG has also clinched the Bathurst 1000 title thrice, in 2020, 2022, and 2023. His passion for racing led him to compete in events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Rally Championship. In 2023, he won the Chicago Street Race with Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91. This victory inspired SVG to move to the US. The decision to shift gears in 2024 by debuting in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing laid the groundwork for his full-time Cup Series. In 2025 he will be driving the No. 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing.

With his success in Project 91, Shane van Gisbergen has indeed set the bar high. Now, Justin Marks has a new candidate to fill in the seat.

Trackhouse Racing announces SVG’s successor

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As Shane van Gisbergen poised to kick off his maiden run with Trackhouse Racing, the team announced their next driver for Project 91. Launched in 2022 by team owner Justin Marks; the initiative aims to attract iconic drivers from various racing disciplines. Shane van Gisbergen’s incredible success with Project 91 in 2023 showcased the program’s potential.

Following Gisbergen’s triumph, the focus now shifts to Helio Castroneves, a four-time Indy 500 champion. Castroneves is set to debut in the 2025 Daytona 500, driving the No. 91 Camaro for Trackhouse Racing. This move brings a motorsport legend to NASCAR. It also shows NASCAR’s growing appeal to drivers from other disciplines.

Speaking about the decision, Marks explained, “This guy is a four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500. He’s raced on many ovals in the United States. Even though the car is different, he’s felt the speed, intensity, and pageantry of big events. He’s risen to the occasion under pressure. He fit the mold so well for the Daytona 500.” 

Notably, Castroneves has an impressive record. He is a four-time IndyCar championship runner-up. He also won three straight Rolex 24 titles from 2021 to 2023. Project 91 keeps bridging motorsport disciplines. It gives legends a chance to shine. Former Formula 1 champion Kimi Räikkönen was the first to drive the No. 91 car.