Last year, a Kiwi thunderstorm swept NASCAR off its feet. In a rain-drenched Chicago Street Race, Cup Series drivers found themselves gaping at a guy from New Zealand. Shane Van Gisbergen picked up a Cup race victory on his debut, in a thunderous start to his NASCAR journey. Back home, however, he was no less missed – the 80-time Supercars race winner and three-time Bathurst 1000 champion left a strong legacy behind.

One Australian motorsports athlete picked up that legacy and turned it into gold. Will Brown replaced Shane Van Gisbergen’s seat at Triple Eight when the latter left for American grounds. Although questions floated about Brown’s worth, the driver snuffed out all with a victorious season while also making a foray into NASCAR. And he thanked SVG for that.

Shane Van Gisbergen gets hilarious tribute

The two racers have crossed paths several times. For instance, Will Brown’s championship pursuit screeched to a halt at a race in Adelaide. He collided with Shane Van Gisbergen, letting Brodie Kostecki clinch the title. Then Brown made his NASCAR debut under Richard Childress Racing‘s banner, and SVG was his spotter at Sonoma Raceway. But when it came to matching SVG’s reputation in Supercars, Brown did a stellar job.

Through the first 11 rounds, Brown was the benchmark, claiming at least one podium at each event. He won four of the season’s 22 races – and when he couldn’t win, he ensured that he came second. As a result, Shane Van Gisbergen’s replacement ended up clinching the 2024 Supercars championship. Yet in a fitting tribute to the Kiwi speedster, Brown acknowledged it would not have been possible without SVG’s absence.

During the Gala Awards Speech, Brown hilariously hailed SVG. “Firstly, I probably need to thank the most important person that made this year what it was and got me the drive. Thanks to Shane Van Gisbergen for p—–g off to NASCAR. Really appreciate that, they can keep him over here.”

This speaks volumes of the gigantic star status that Shane Van Gisbergen entertains back home. We already know that the Bathurst champion brought his winning legacy to NASCAR. After his Chicago debut, SVG won three Xfinity races this year despite finding it hard to adapt to the car. After he spotted for Brown at Sonoma, the latter is now eager to come back to NASCAR. Recent rumors suggest that Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33 car would be on the cards for 2025. The drivers suspected of wheeling it are Austin Hill and Will Brown, possibly for 10-18 races.

While Will Brown’s NASCAR debut at Sonoma wasn’t exactly the dream start he may have hoped for, it left a lasting impact about his skills. Additionally, with the driver winning the Supercars tour, he might just be the wildcard RCR needs after the 2024 season they’ve had.

Yet Brown’s legendary accomplishment in Supercars cannot be understated.

Acknowledged for leveling SVG

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Here in NASCAR, we are already aware of the weight that Shane Van Gisbergen carries in the garage. Cup Series drivers like Kyle Larson remain in awe at his prowess. During the Xfinity Chicago race, Larson finished second while SVG secured the victory. And the HMS veteran confessed that he just wanted to ‘learn’: “I wanted to learn more than anything and I wanted to get to battle with him.” 

Considering the level of respect attained in only his second year in NASCAR, no wonder the respect SVG carries in Supercars. So after Will Brown successfully filled SVG’s shoes and clinched the championship, a veteran racer saluted him. Mark Skaife, five-time V8 Supercars champion, hailed Brown’s efforts in 2024. “He replaced Shane van Gisbergen, previous champion, and a guy that was probably accredited as the best driver in the field at the time. For him to come into a new team, and for him to put such a great campaign together this year, is an extraordinary achievement. He’s been very, very consistent, he’s been fast, he’s been dominant, and he leads the championship coming into this weekend.” 

Brown himself confessed his lofty goals: “Replacing Shane and coming to this team, I knew that if I didn’t win the championship, or I wasn’t first or second this year, that it’s probably because I’ve underperformed at the end of the day.”

Evidently, Shane Van Gisbergen has a sturdy match in Supercars. As Brown’s plans gravitate towards NASCAR, let us wait and see if the two cross paths again.