Who is Shane van Gisbergen?
Shane van Gisbergen, born Shane Robert van Gisbergen, better known as SVG, hails from New Zealand and has made quite a name for himself in the Supercars Championship. This Kiwi speedster has snagged the Supercars Champion title three times – in 2016, 2021, and 2022. With an impressive tally of 81 wins and 48 pole positions, he’s comfortably perched at the 4th spot on the all-time wins list in the championship. Not to mention, he’s clinched the Bathurst 1000 title thrice, in 2020, 2022, and 2023.
Lately, SVG’s been dipping his toes in the NASCAR waters. After making a splash by winning the NASCAR’s Chicago race as part of Justin Mark’s Project91 program, he’s become quite the buzz in the racing circles. The latest scoop is that SVG is gearing up to join the NASCAR Xfinity Series as a full-time driver.
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He’s set to take the wheel of the No. 97 Chevrolet Camaro for Kaulig Racing, and will also share his talents part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing. That’s not all – he’ll also make appearances in the ARCA Menards Series, steering a Chevrolet SS for a yet-to-be-announced team.
As of now, SVG is gearing up for at least seven races in the Cup Series in 2024, ready to burn rubber and leave his mark in the world of NASCAR.
Does SVG have a wife/girlfriend?
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Shane van Gisbergen isn’t just making waves on the race track; he’s also got a special someone cheering him on from the sidelines. He’s been dating Jessica Dane, who happens to be the daughter of SVG’s former team owner. The couple’s relationship has been in the spotlight since van Gisbergen’s Bathurst victory back in 2022. While Wide World of Sports confirmed their romance, the pair chose to keep the finer details under wraps.
Jessica Dane has been more than just a supportive partner; she’s been right beside SVG in his racing adventures. She was his plus-one in France for his first stint at the Le Mans 24 Hour race and also lent a hand during his stint in the World Rally Championship in New Zealand.
Van Gisbergen, a three-time Bathurst champion since 2020, has Jessica Dane often sharing snapshots of their life on social media. One memorable post shows them in a helicopter, where she playfully mentions getting muted by SVG for laughing too much, captioned, “Moments before he muted me for laughing too much 🙊.” Another recent addition to her photo gallery captures the couple with their dog, hinting at their upcoming move to the USA with the caption, “Australia has been good to us, looking forward to what’s next 🇺🇸.”
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It looks like the racing duo is set to embark on new adventures both on and off the track, with Jessica Dane by van Gisbergen’s side every step of the way.
Who is Jessica Dane?
Jessica Dane is much more than just Shane van Gisbergen’s girlfriend; she’s a strong, independent woman in her own right. Born on August 14, 1991, in Surrey, England, Jessica has carved out a significant niche for herself as an entrepreneur, media personality, and prominent figure in the public eye.
Known for her relationship with the acclaimed racer Shane van Gisbergen, Jessica stands tall with her own accomplishments. She’s a key player in the world of race engineering, holding a substantial 30% ownership in the Triple Eight Race Engineering team. Only Tony Quinn, the founder of VIP Petfoods, surpasses her stake with a 40% share. Her father, Roland Dane, a former rally driver and entrepreneur, retains an 11% share, while Jamie Whincup, a former driver turned team boss, owns 19%.
Jessica’s role at Triple Eight isn’t just about ownership; she’s been deeply involved in the team’s operations as well. She’s managed commercial operations and even stepped up as the deputy team manager for Craig Lowndes and Declan Fraser’s Bathurst entry this year. Her collaboration with Lowndes was instrumental in the years leading to his 2018 retirement.
Academically, Jessica is a double threat, with degrees in journalism and law from the University of Bournemouth. She’s a familiar voice in the Australian rally scene and an advocate for women in motorsport.
Jessica’s family background is equally impressive. Her father, Roland Dane, is well-known in the racing world. The details about her mother remain private, and she has a younger sister named Ali Surrey Dane. Jessica is a Christian and belongs to a white ethnicity. Currently, Jessica is accompanying her partner Shane van Gisbergen as the latter goes on to race the next-gen cars in NASCAR.
Does the couple have any children?
As of now, the couple hasn’t grown their family with any children. They’re currently enjoying their journey together, just the two of them.
What lies ahead of SVG in the 2024 season?
Shane van Gisbergen is gearing up for a busy start to his first full NASCAR season. He’s set his sights on tackling the ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona on February 17, 2024. This isn’t just any race for van Gisbergen; it’s a crucial step in getting the green light from NASCAR to join the Xfinity Series race later the same day. This 200-mile challenge will be his first taste of racing on a superspeedway and navigating the draft.
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But that’s just the beginning. Van Gisbergen plans to power through an additional 300 miles in the Xfinity race, marking a robust kickoff to his NASCAR journey.
After that, he’s set to dive into the full Xfinity season with Kaulig Racing in 2024, and he’s not stopping there. He’s also lined up to make at least seven Cup starts.
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Trackhouse Racing President Ty Norris shared on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio about the Daytona race, “We’re in the process of getting Shane van Gisbergen in the ARCA race for Daytona. There’s a annual pre-race practice in January and the Xfinity Series has a pretty lengthy practice, so there’s a lot of opportunities to be observed. That’ll lead to an approval for Daytona and once he’s approved at Daytona, we’ll be able to go to any track on the circuit.” Once he clears the Daytona hurdle, van Gisbergen will be set to race at any track on the circuit.
In another exciting development, the latest buzz suggests that van Gisbergen might also join the ranks of High Limit Racing, the venture owned by Kyle Larson and Brad Sweet. It’s going to be a busy year for SVG for sure.