Shane van Gisbergen Unravels His Brainchild Behind Heartwarming Tribute to Mentor Turned “Friend”

As NASCAR steps into the Throwback time machine for the Goodyear 400, many teams and drivers have revealed iconic paint schemes. From the various Petty (75th Anniversary) throwback schemes to Carson Hocevar’s vintage patrol car scheme, there are quite a few contenders for the fan vote. That being said, Shane van Gisbergen took the route of honoring one of Australian Supercars’ brightest stars, Marcos Ambrose.

Shane van Gisbergen transports fans back to 2012 Watkins Glen with his Darlington throwback scheme

Only a year after making his stellar debut at COTA, Shane van Gisbergen has become quite a fan favorite. Although he may not have a full-time seat in the top category yet, SvG aims to honor the one driver who inspired him the most in his NASCAR journey. Sharing a reel with fans on Instagram, SvG shared insights into his 2024 Darlington Throwback paint scheme and the inspiration behind it.

Owing to his Supercars roots, SvG felt it was only fitting to honor one of the greatest drivers from the Australian series to win a NASCAR race. Speaking of which, Marcos Ambrose‘s paint scheme during his win at Watkins Glen stood out as the ideal choice for the Kiwi. In a race that truly fitted Darlington’s claim as a ‘ruthless’ track, Ambrose battled it out with Brad Keselowski to the checkered.

This win struck a chord with many Supercars fans, including Shane van Gisbergen.  He shared in the reel, “We’re going to Kaulig to see our Darlington throwback car. My idea, actually. I wanted it to be off of the Watkins Glen race he had with Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch, it’s like, one of the best NASCAR road course finishes ever. I remember that race, I watched that one live. I remember the finish, how awesome it was, and then the buzz in, you know, all the news sites in Australia and people talking about it.”

Looking back on the time he got the call from Justin Marks, the Kiwi shared insight into Ambroses’ mentor-like attitude. The Kaulig x Trackhouse driver shared; “Once this opportunity came up, I went straight to him for advice. He was one of the first guys I called. And he was just like, straight away, ‘You gotta get here! And the transition, he’s helped so much.”

As SvG took on the Oval for the first time in his career, Marcos Ambrose helped him navigate through the various feelings he’d have to come to terms with. SvG shared how Ambrose’s tips were vital in knowing “what to expect, what it’s going to feel like, things I’m going to struggle with, and tracks that are going to be difficult for me.” The Kiwi also added how Darlington was amongst these tracks.

Naturally, SvG felt there was no better opportunity to honor the Australian Legend and his keen interest in ensuring the Kiwi got up to speed with the world of NASCAR. But how did this relationship between the former rivals develop?

‘Proud to call Marcos a friend’ –  SvG shares insight into his close relationship with Marcos Ambrose

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Although Shane van Gisbergen hails from New Zealand, many Australians consider him one of his own. But even with a major time-zone difference now that SvG is in the States, fellow Australian Supercars driver Marcos Ambrose always finds time to help out the NASCAR rookie.

Reflecting on how time zones pose no barriers in their relationship, SvG stated; “So we speak most Thursday nights, my time, which is Friday morning for him, and we have a good conversation. He just tells me what to feel and what to look for. It means a lot, not only to me, but to a lot of Australian fans too, and QuadLock being an Australian brand is an amazing fit.”

With an Australian brand supporting SvG as an Australian veteran helping him get up to speed, it’s safe to say that the Kiwi’s popularity in the Supercars tour has helped unite fans and drivers alike. All share their loyal support for SvG through their means. But perhaps the one driver who has helped out the most is indeed Ambrose.

Through their conversations on Thursday nights, SvG and Ambrose have transitioned from a mentor-mentee relationship to one that lasts forever; friendship. The Kiwi shared a heartfelt conclusion, “Just to replicate it in our race car this weekend, I think it’s pretty special. So yeah, pretty proud to call Marcos a friend now, and you know, to do this for him. When I told him about it, he was over the moon. It was really cool.” 

After taking a look at Shane van Gisbergen’s wholesome tribute to the Australian Supercars legend, is your fan vote for the best throwback livery going to Kaulig Racing?