9 months ago
79 Shane van Gisbergen is readying to ditch Supercars to vie successful the NASCAR Cup Series successful 2024.
The three-time Supercars champion enjoyed the cleanable debut connected the streets of Chicago arsenic a wildcard entry, winning successful his archetypal commencement with Trackhouse Racing.
Since then, speculation has been rampant that the treble Bathurst 1000 victor volition marque the determination to the United States successful 2024 amid a flurry of options. Now, the Kiwi has confirmed that's each but a formality.
Speaking aft the latest circular of the Supercars season, the Sydney SuperNight astatine Sydney Motorsport Park, van Gisbergen was prompted by comments made by squad brag Jamie Whincup that he'd similar a determination made by the Auckland-born operator soon.
"There's evidently a batch happening successful the background," said van Gisbergen.
"I'm not leaving due to the fact that of this team. I emotion this team. When I leave, I privation to marque definite there's idiosyncratic present to regenerate maine that's going to bash a bully occupation successful the car. You don't privation to permission the squad with thing scrambling to find someone.
"There are a batch of bully drivers present signed up. I privation to permission with the squad successful a bully spot. Hopefully the squad has idiosyncratic soon."
Asked whether that meant helium was readying to contention successful the NASCAR Cup Series successful 2024, van Gisbergen offered a elemental "yes" successful response.
That came with a caveat, nevertheless – "I don't cognize if I'll beryllium full-time," helium said.
Garth Tander, a Supercars champion and aggregate Bathurst 1000 winner, explained that van Gisbergen's determination to NASCAR mightiness mean helium has to vie successful second- oregon third-tier competitions to beryllium eligible to contention successful the Cup Series connected ovals.
While van Gisbergen's acquisition connected roadworthy courses and thoroughfare circuits successful Supercars gave him close of transition to contention successful the Cup Series successful downtown Chicago, helium would request to beryllium helium is susceptible connected ovals earlier taking connected the apical class.
"He won't beryllium racing NASCAR Cup full-time due to the fact that he's not really licensed to beryllium capable to contention connected the superspeedways," said Tander connected Fox Sports' coverage.
"He'll person to spell done a part-time programme if helium is implicit determination and get done the applicable licensing process and tally successful the little class car – similar the Super3 oregon Super2 if you like, what we person present successful Australia – earlier helium tin tally successful the outright Cup championship.
"If helium is implicit determination full-time adjacent twelvemonth it won't beryllium full-time successful Cup, he'll person to leap done a fewer hoops."
Van Gisbergen is thought to person aggregate offers connected the array to contention successful NASCAR adjacent year.
Should helium determine to leave, determination are a fewer contiguous options successful presumption of a replacement.
Those see Triple Eight Race Engineering squad brag Jamie Whincup, who retired from full-time contention astatine the extremity of 2021.
The squad besides has Richie Stanaway successful its arsenal. He raced full-time successful Supercars for respective years earlier a little retirement.
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