Shane van Gisbergen, widely recognized today as a top road course driver and rising NASCAR star, once stood on the brink of quitting racing entirely. Before achieving multiple Supercars championships and notable NASCAR success, van Gisbergen endured a challenging period marked by legal struggles and team instability that threatened to end his career.
In a candid discussion with Jeff Gluck for The Athletic’s 12 Questions segment, Van Gisbergen opened up about this dark phase and how he managed to overcome it through persistence and family support.
In 2012, at the end of that year, I was out of racing. I wanted to stop, and I sort of did stop. And then Dad really convinced me to keep going, and we changed teams,
he said.
The Struggles with Stone Brothers Racing and Team Changes
Van Gisbergen faced significant frustration during his time with Stone Brothers Racing (SBR), especially as the team underwent ownership changes and altered its manufacturer partnership from Ford to Mercedes. He felt the new direction was flawed and led to poor performance.
Describing the situation, he noted,
They were changing manufacturers (from Ford to Mercedes), doing it a completely different way that you knew wasn’t going to work, which I was right, they ran terrible.
This period left him disheartened and unwilling to continue driving under such conditions, yet his reserved personality prevented him from publicly addressing the reasons behind his dissatisfaction. This silence allowed rumors to develop, with some suggesting he suffered from depression or was sabotaging the team.
Contract Disputes and a Premature Return to Racing
Determined to take a break, Van Gisbergen aimed to race only on terms he set, even considering time spent away in a modest setting at his parents’ home. After agreeing to a contract termination with SBR covering 2013 to 2015, he surprisingly announced plans to compete with a different V8 Supercar team less than two months later, breaching the agreement.
This decision stemmed from his ongoing dissatisfaction with SBR, although he had not voiced these concerns during contract negotiations. Feeling deceived, Stone Brothers Racing initiated legal proceedings against van Gisbergen, adding further complexity to his career challenges.
Resilience Leads to Racing Success and New Opportunities
Despite the legal disputes and public misunderstandings, this phase became a pivotal moment in van Gisbergen’s career, testing his determination and resilience. His ability to persist and ultimately succeed has defined him as a hallmark competitor, especially in NASCAR road course events where his skills have flourished.
This comeback not only salvaged his racing trajectory but also set the stage for the victories and recognition he enjoys today, demonstrating how perseverance can turn setbacks into defining achievements in motorsport.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen quit Supercars?
A. Van Gisbergen left Supercars permanently after an impressive NASCAR Cup Series start with Trackhouse Racing. He won a race in Chicago. Explaining his decision, he mentioned he wasn’t enjoying Supercars racing. “I disliked that car,” he commented about the Gen3 Camaro.
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen leave Supercars?
A. Thinking back on his departure from Supercars, van Gisbergen explained he wasn’t enjoying the experience. He mentioned he disliked driving the Gen3 Camaro. In his opinion, it was a dull and frustrating car. He felt that every time you drove it, you couldn’t go over 40 percent without it slowing down or going in reverse.
