‘The World Center of Racing’ is set to turn into a global motorsport spectacle. The Daytona International Speedway will host the prestigious Rolex 24 endurance race. From NASCAR to Formula One, IndyCar to Le Mans, the Rolex 24 brings together stars from every corner of the motorsport world. At this year’s event, 61 elite cars will be tackling the iconic 12-turn, 3.56-mile road course. The track will see two Supercars legends showcase their skills as teammates for the first time!

From Supercars rivals to teammates. New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin will team up for the prestigious ride. The two drivers will come together for the first time in their careers to take on the challenge. They will be driving the No. 91 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R with two other drivers. However, ahead of the event, Van Gisbergen has spoken about the awkward partnership with McLaughlin.

Shane Van Gisbergen Reflects on his Rolex 24 teammates

Three-time Supercars champion Shane Van Gisbergen’s partnership with Scott McLaughlin might have seemed unlikely a few years ago. McLaughlin is also a three-time Supercars champ and both Kiwi drivers have been fierce competitors in the past. In McLaughlin’s two out of three championship battles, Gisbergen grabbed the runners-up spot.

Now, in an unexpected twist, they’ve joined forces for the Rolex 24. Speaking about it Gisbergen told Fox Sports, “Definitely very weird. Having one of your fiercest rivals or competitors, but yeah. Now we’re really good friends. And working together has been awesome, along with Connor… We gave up sessions for each other to give each other more time to work on the car consistently. And yeah, I think it worked pretty well. That’s cool.”

For years, van Gisbergen and McLaughlin have represented the pinnacle of New Zealand motorsport talent. Their rivalry in the Supercars Championship saw intense wheel-to-wheel battles, where they often traded victories and championships. Gisbergen won his first title in 2016, only to see McLaughlin’s dominance till 2020. From 2017 to 2020, McLaughlin won three titles and dominated the Kiwi racing circuit.

After McLaughlin departed for IndyCar in 2021, Gisbergen dominated the tracks to win two more titles. Despite their shared heritage and passion for motorsport, the duo never came together to partner for any event. However, this year’s Rolex 24 provides them the opportunity to race together. NASCAR rookie Connor Zilisch and veteran Ben Keating will also join them.

For Shane van Gisbergen, this collaboration represents more than just another race. It’s a testament to how his career has evolved. His NASCAR journey began with a spectacular debut in 2023. He shocked the motorsport world by winning the Chicago Street Course race in his first Cup start. That victory opened the door for a full-time NASCAR career.

In 2024, Shane van Gisbergen joined Kaulig Racing for the Xfinity Series with support from Trackhouse Racing. He quickly impressed by winning three races and nearly clinching a few more. His strong performance earned him a promotion to the Cup Series for 2025. This season, he will race the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Camaro.

SVG gets a special sponsor

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In another landmark moment for his career, Shane van Gisbergen announced a renewed partnership with Red Bull for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. This deal will mark Red Bull’s return to NASCAR after a 14-year absence. It’s worth noting that Gisbergen will drive a full Red Bull livery car in five races this season.

Notably, Red Bull has been a longtime partner for Shane Van Gisbergen. They have supported him in his three Supercar championship seasons and multiple Bathurst 1000 victories. Van Gisbergen expressed his excitement about the deal and said, “It’s great to have Red Bull back with me as I take on this new chapter. They’ve been a big part of my career, and I’d love to give them a NASCAR victory as a thank-you.”

It’s worth noting that, Red Bull will also partner with Gisbergen’s 18-year-old teammate Connor Zilisch. The rising NASCAR star will sport the Red Bull logo on his No. 87 Trackhouse Racing car during select races. He will also make his Cup Series debut at COTA with Red Bull livery. Notably, Red Bull first entered NASCAR in 2006, operating as a Dodge team. The team remained active until the end of the 2011 season; BK Racing subsequently purchased it.

SVG enters the Cup Series with expectations of road course dominance. However, the Kiwi native will surely look to prove he is more than just that. However, he has one more shot at etching his name into road course history with a win at the Rolex 24. Do you think SVG can add another feather to his cap before the season starts?