Shane van Gisbergen is no stranger to the Rolex 24. The Kiwi is participating in his sixth iteration of the prestigious event, with his last appearance coming in 2020 when he partnered with Kyle Busch at the AIM Vasser Sullivan team. Given his experience, the 35-year-old was expected to give the No. 91 Trackhouse by TF Sport Chevrolet Corvette an early advantage at Daytona International Speedway, but things don’t always work out according to plan.

Keeping the big picture in mind, Shane van Gisbergen remains optimistic about his team’s performance despite a less-than-ideal start. With over six hours having already passed, the veteran is taking some well-earned rest before getting back on the racetrack once again.

Shane van Gisbergen is playing the long game

Shane van Gisbergen has tasted success at the Rolex 24 before. The veteran driver was on the podium in 2015, after finishing runner-up in the GTD class. Despite having run Spa, LeMans, and Bathurst, the Kiwi racer considers the Rolex 24 At Daytona his favorite endurance race, claiming, “It’s just so enjoyable. It’s so fun.” However, it seems like his start in the Chevrolet Corvette didn’t go exactly as planned, as the 35-year-old struggled to control the car on Daytona International Speedway’s 2.5-mile tri-oval.

Reflecting on his experience after finishing a triple stint, Shane van Gisbergen candidly said, “The Trackhouse side of things was really cool. It was a little difficult, car was really good, but had to double and triple the left sides wasn’t so fun. I got bullied a bit. It is what it is. Kept out of trouble and will try again in a few hours.” When asked if the experience would help him and Connor Zilisch in NASCAR, the veteran driver went on to say, “It’s 8 hours of seat time before the preseason so it’s awesome to sharpen up, get a lot of race time, and experience new things. I love this race, it’s a lot of fun. It might be difficult but who knows?”

Shane van Gisbergen has a big season ahead. The road course specialist has secured a full-time Cup Series seat with Trackhouse Racing for 2025 and will be driving the No. 88 Chevy against NASCAR’s very best across 36 races. Considering the challenge that lies ahead, the veteran driver needs all the practice he can get, and competing at Daytona International Speedway is a good way to acclimatize to the track before the season opener at the same venue.

Despite Van Gisbergen getting bullied during his triple stint, the racer can take solace in the fact that the 24 Hours of Daytona is far from over. His teammate Connor Zilisch won the LMP2 class of the event last year, while Ben Keating won the 2015 Rolex 24 in his respective class. Meanwhile, Scott McLaughlin has won the IndyCar Racing Series seven times, an incredible achievement by any standards. The No. 91 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3R can still turn this race around, and secure a memorable victory at the iconic event.

Van Gisbergen extends Rolex 24 invitation to Max Verstappen

Trending

1

FedEx’s Sudden Exit From Joe Gibbs Racing Prompts The Coach to Bag their $13 Billion Worth Competitor

2

After Cutting 15-YO Ties With Kyle Busch, M&M’s Rumored to Have Found Next NASCAR Driver

3

Kelley Earnhardt Sends Bold 4-Word Message Amid JRM’s Cup Series Entry

4

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Wife Fights Off Rumors After Fans Go Down a Rabbit Hole

Many consider the 24 Hours of Daytona to be the pinnacle of endurance racing. After all, the prestigious event is the place where all the elite drivers assemble and battle each other for supremacy at an iconic venue. However, no such event would be complete in the absence of a reigning Formula 1 champion, and with Max Verstappen having won four consecutive titles, it’s clear that Shane van Gisbergen wants to compete against the very best that the world of motorsports has to offer.

With Red Bull having made a resurgent comeback in the NASCAR world, could Verstappen follow suit and compete at the Rolex 24 in the future? Time will tell. However, that didn’t stop Shane van Gisbergen and his teammates from extending the invitation with Ben Keating saying in the pre-race press conference, “I’d love to see Max Verstappen come out here and play around with us.” The sentiment was echoed by SVG as well, who chimed in and said, “I feel the same. I was just messaging him [Max] about it before. I think he’d be good here.”

Verstappen competing at the Rolex 24 isn’t beyond the realm of possibility. The Formula 1 racer has previously expressed his desire to participate in endurance racing, going on to say, “I want to go there and try to win it, be really competitive.” However, the demanding F1 schedule remains a significant obstacle, but the Dutch driver is keeping his hopes alive by saying, “Maybe in a few years. I’ll still be young-ish and able to drive the cars.”

Do you think Max Verstappen could compete at the 24 Hours of Daytona one day? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!