Shane Robert van Gisbergen Bio
Shane Robert van Gisbergen, widely known by his initials SVG or by his nickname The Giz, is a New Zealand professional racing driver born on 9 May 1989 in Auckland, New Zealand. He is one of the most accomplished drivers to emerge from the southern hemisphere, having built a legendary career across multiple disciplines before turning his full attention to NASCAR. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 97 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro SS for JR Motorsports.
Van Gisbergen is a three-time Supercars Championship titleholder, having won driver championships in 2016, 2021, and 2022. With 80 wins and 46 pole positions in the Supercars Championship, he sits fourth on the all-time wins list in the series. He has won the Bathurst 1000 three times, in 2020, 2022, and 2023, and alongside Paul Morris is one of only two drivers to have won all three major car racing events at Mount Panorama: the Bathurst 1000, Bathurst 6 Hour, and Bathurst 12 Hour. He made NASCAR Cup Series history by winning in his series debut at the 2023 Grant Park 220 in Chicago.
Early Life and Background
Shane Robert van Gisbergen was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, the son of Robert van Gisbergen and Karen Wallace. From an early age, he was immersed in the world of motorsport, beginning with motocross before progressing through quarter midgets and karting between 1998 and 2004. This diverse early exposure to different forms of racing laid the foundation for the versatile driving style that would become his hallmark throughout his professional career.
Van Gisbergen’s transition to formula racing came quickly. He placed third in the 2004/2005 New Zealand Formula First Championship and was awarded Rookie of the Year honors in the same season. He had previously earned a Speedsport Star of Tomorrow Scholarship, which helped open doors at the next level. A win in the 2005/06 New Zealand Formula Ford Championship was accompanied by another Rookie of the Year title, and he followed that with a second-place finish in the 2006/07 Toyota Racing Series, firmly establishing himself as one of New Zealand’s most promising young drivers.
Path to NASCAR
Van Gisbergen’s professional racing career began in earnest in 2007 when he made his V8 Supercars debut with Team Kiwi Racing, becoming the 200th driver to compete in a V8 Supercar race at the Jim Beam 400 at Oran Park Raceway. His performance that season caught the attention of Stone Brothers Racing, and he joined the team for the 2008 season, remaining there for five seasons through 2012. He secured a career-best fourth-place finish in the championship standings in 2011 during his tenure with the squad, steadily building the reputation that would eventually lead him to one of Australia’s most storied teams.
A pivotal move came at the start of the 2013 season when van Gisbergen joined Tekno Autosports. The transition proved fruitful, as he finished runner-up in the championship in 2014. His growing stature in the sport attracted the attention of Triple Eight Race Engineering, and in 2016 he joined the expanded team alongside Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes. That year marked the start of the most dominant phase of his Supercars career, as he won his first championship with eight race victories, and later added titles in 2021 and 2022, cementing his place among the greatest drivers in the history of Australian touring car racing.
Shane Robert van Gisbergen Career
Early Career (2007–2012)
Van Gisbergen’s first full season in the V8 Supercars Championship came in 2007 with Team Kiwi Racing. He made an immediate impression, becoming the 200th driver to compete in a V8 Supercar race at the Jim Beam 400 at Oran Park Raceway. His strong early results earned him a full-time seat with Stone Brothers Racing starting in 2008, where he remained for five consecutive seasons through 2012. During his time with the team, he achieved consistent top-ten finishes and secured a career-best fourth place in the championship standings in 2011, signaling his emergence as a genuine title contender.
Van Gisbergen’s early years in the championship were also defined by his growing reputation at Mount Panorama. He led the 2009 Bathurst 1000 until a car that would not restart on pit lane cost him dearly, and a near-identical issue in the 2014 race — where he stalled with ten laps remaining — cost him a near-certain victory. He did take his first Bathurst 1000 pole position in 2014, a milestone that foreshadowed the race wins to come in later years. His loyalty to the sport and relentless approach during this period laid the groundwork for the championship-caliber career that followed.
Supercars Championship Breakthrough (2013–2022)
Van Gisbergen’s move to Tekno Autosports in 2013 marked a significant step forward. He finished runner-up in the championship in 2014, his highest finish to that point, and continued to grow as a driver across the following two seasons. In 2016, he joined the expanded Triple Eight Race Engineering operation alongside Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes, a move that would define the most successful era of his career. He won his first race for the team at the Tasmania SuperSprint and teamed with Alexandre Prémat for the Enduro Cup, securing three second-place finishes and winning the Bathurst 1000 co-driven with Prémat.
Van Gisbergen’s breakthrough season culminated in his first Supercars Championship title in 2016, achieved with eight race wins — the most of any driver that season. He added a second championship in 2021 and a third in 2022, making him one of only a handful of drivers to win three or more titles in the modern era of the championship. He won the Bathurst 1000 three times, in 2020, 2022, and 2023, with his 2022 victory alongside Garth Tander coming in what proved to be the final race for Holden as a manufacturer in the Supercars Championship. With 80 wins and 46 pole positions, van Gisbergen ranks fourth on the all-time Supercars Championship wins list.
NASCAR Cup Series Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Van Gisbergen made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in stunning fashion on 2 July 2023 at the inaugural Chicago Street Course, driving the No. 91 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 programme. He qualified third and, after being shuffled back in a stage-ending pileup, took the lead on lap 71 from Justin Haley. When a caution for a Bubba Wallace incident sent the race into overtime, van Gisbergen held on to win — becoming only the seventh driver in series history to win in a Cup Series debut, the first to do so in the modern era, and the first since IndyCar driver Johnny Rutherford accomplished the feat in 1963. He also became the first New Zealander to win a Cup Series race and the winningest non-American driver in the series at that point.
His second career Cup start at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course produced another top-ten finish, making him the first driver to open a Cup career with two top-tens since Terry Labonte in 1978. In 2024, he competed full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing’s No. 97, scoring victories at Portland and Sonoma on back-to-back weeks and adding a third win at Chicago. He was eliminated from the first round of the Xfinity Series playoffs but scored one top-five and two top-ten finishes across twelve Cup Series races that year, including a pole position at the Charlotte Roval.
Trackhouse Racing Era (2025–Present)
Van Gisbergen signed a full-time deal with Trackhouse Racing for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, driving the No. 97 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. He started the season with a 33rd-place finish at the Daytona 500 and faced challenges through the first fifteen races, recording only one top-ten finish. He broke through with a dominant win at Mexico City, winning by sixteen seconds and clinching his first career NASCAR playoff berth. He followed up with victories at Chicago — where he became the winningest non-American driver in Cup Series history — and Sonoma, where he swept both poles for the Xfinity and Cup races on the same weekend. A third win of the season tied him with Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson for the most wins by a Cup Series rookie, and a fourth victory at Watkins Glen made him the winningest rookie driver in a single season in NASCAR history. He earned a fifth consecutive road course win at the Charlotte Roval but was eliminated from playoff contention following the Bristol race.
Driving Style and Strengths
Van Gisbergen is widely regarded as one of the most naturally gifted road course drivers in NASCAR. His Supercars background, with its heavy emphasis on high-speed precision and close-quarters racing, translated seamlessly to road course competition in the United States. His race craft, particularly in restart and overtaking situations, has been repeatedly praised, and his ability to extract maximum performance from a car over both short runs and long green-flag stretches sets him apart. His partnership with Trackhouse Racing has allowed him to leverage a strong Chevrolet alliance and a team with competitive road course resources.
Notable Races and Milestones
Van Gisbergen’s victory at the 2023 Grant Park 220 in Chicago remains one of the most remarkable debuts in NASCAR history. His wins at Mexico City, Chicago, Sonoma, and Watkins Glen in 2025 made him the winningest rookie in a single Cup Series season, surpassing previous records. He also became the second driver in NASCAR history to sweep the Xfinity and Cup races from the pole on the same weekend, joining Kyle Busch in that exclusive club. Three Bathurst 1000 victories and the 2016 Bathurst 12 Hour win place him among the most accomplished drivers in the history of Mount Panorama.
Shane Robert van Gisbergen Career Wins
Shane Robert van Gisbergen has amassed an extraordinary number of career victories across multiple racing disciplines. He is fourth on the all-time wins list in the Supercars Championship with 80 victories, and has added multiple NASCAR wins across the Cup and Xfinity Series. He is a three-time Bathurst 1000 winner and a Bathurst 12 Hour winner, and has captured championships across Supercars, GT racing, and New Zealand formula categories.
Supercars Championship Highlights
Van Gisbergen’s 80 Supercars Championship wins rank fourth all-time in the series. He won eight races in his 2016 championship season, and followed with additional dominant seasons in 2021 and 2022. His three Bathurst 1000 victories — in 2020, 2022, and 2023 — represent some of the most memorable moments of his career, with the 2022 win alongside Garth Tander coming in the final race for Holden as a manufacturer. His 46 pole positions reflect consistent qualifying pace throughout his tenure in the championship.
NASCAR and Other Wins and Performances
In NASCAR, van Gisbergen has won multiple Cup Series races, beginning with his historic debut victory at the 2023 Grant Park 220 in Chicago. He followed with additional Cup wins in 2025 at Mexico City, Chicago, Sonoma, and Watkins Glen, setting the single-season rookie win record. He has also won in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, capturing victories at Portland, Sonoma, and Chicago in 2024 and at Chicago in 2025. In GT racing, he won the 2016 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour and the 2016 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup. He also claimed victory in the 2021 New Zealand Grand Prix.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supercars Championship | 80 | N/A | 46 |
| NASCAR Cup Series | 5+ | N/A | 1+ |
| NASCAR Xfinity Series | 4+ | N/A | N/A |
Shane Robert van Gisbergen Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Shane Robert van Gisbergen was born to Robert van Gisbergen and Karen Wallace in Auckland, New Zealand. His father, Robert van Gisbergen, and his mother, Karen Wallace, provided the foundation for a career that would span continents and racing disciplines. In 2025, van Gisbergen married Jessica Dane, who is the current program manager at Corvette Racing. Jessica Dane and her father, Roland Dane, were co-owners at Triple Eight Race Engineering, the team with which van Gisbergen achieved the majority of his Supercars Championship success.
Personal Life
Van Gisbergen is married to Jessica Dane as of 2025. Jessica Dane serves as program manager at Corvette Racing, connecting van Gisbergen to one of the most prominent manufacturer programs in sports car racing. His family’s ties to Triple Eight Race Engineering through Roland Dane’s co-ownership further entwine his personal and professional lives. Van Gisbergen stands 187 centimeters tall and weighs 80 kilograms, and holds New Zealand nationality.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Shane Robert van Gisbergen’s first full-time campaign in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 97 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing. He began the year with a 33rd-place finish at the Daytona 500 and faced a challenging stretch through the first fifteen races, managing only one top-ten finish in that span. A breakthrough came at Mexico City, where he dominated with a sixteen-second victory that also clinched his first career NASCAR playoff berth. He followed up with road course wins at Chicago and Sonoma, sweeping poles for both the Xfinity and Cup races at Sonoma in the same weekend and joining Kyle Busch as the second driver ever to sweep both series from pole on a single weekend.
His third win of the 2025 season tied him with Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson for the most wins in a rookie Cup Series season. A fourth victory at Watkins Glen made him the winningest rookie driver in a single Cup Series season. Van Gisbergen added a fifth consecutive road course win at the Charlotte Roval, demonstrating remarkable consistency on road courses throughout the season. He was eliminated from the playoffs following the Bristol race. He also competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports in the No. 9, winning at Chicago and finishing second at Sonoma in his first two starts for the team.
