After three Repco Supercars Championships and the same number of Bathurst 1000s, Shane van Gisbergen will depart the local racing scene next year to enter the world of NASCAR following his debut win in Chicago.
Following his debuting at Oran Park in 2007, van Gisbergen has achieved 81 race wins, 48 pole positions and 176 podiums ahead of the VAILO Adelaide 500 this weekend.
To celebrate these achievements the Repco Garage has collated his top five races in Supercars, but if you don’t agree head to our socials to share your opinion.
Hamilton 2011
At 21-years-old van Gisbergen took his first Supercars win on home turf on the streets of Hamilton heading off a challenge from Lee Holdsworth in what were difficult mixed conditions. With his home crowd behind him, van Gisbergen held on to take victory.
“When I was growing up I used to watch Murph and clap every time he came round,” van Gisbergen said.
“I could see the crowd cheering after I passed Rick [Kelly] and that got to me, I started to make mistakes, so there were a few, ‘C’mon Shane, let’s get it together’.
“When you have the whole nation on you, it’s hard not to get excited.
“It’s a dream come true. This is what I always wanted to do.”
Bathurst, 2014
A heartbreaking event for van Gisbergen, but was one where he was at his best. After securing provisional pole and converting this in a tense Top 10 Shootout to start Sunday’s race from the prime position. In what was a controversial and long event, van Gisbergen held a significant lead entering the final hour until the final pit stop where the race went awry. Coming in for one last pit stop, van Gisbergen was unable to restart the Tekno Autosport VF Commodore due to a starter motor fault dropping him out of contention.
Bathurst, 2020
Van Gisbergen’s first Repco Bathurst 1000 victory was hard earned and an emotional one after Holden’s withdrawal from the market earlier in the year. Holding off a hungry Cameron Waters after two late-race safety car restarts to secure his maiden Mountain victory alongside Garth Tander leading to a run of success at Bathurst following many heartbreaks. Videos of van Gisbergen lapping the Mountain with a Holden flag will be etched in the memories of fans forever.
Sandown, 2021
If not having a bung collarbone is not difficult enough, then Melbourne’s famous fickle weather and a qualifying of 17th make the assignment all that much tougher. But, not for van Gisbergen. After injuring himself in a mountain bike crash two weeks earlier, van Gisbergen raced at Sandown with a metal plate inserted in his shoulder. He won all three races and visited the surgeon post-event only to discover he also had three broken ribs as well. Amazing!
Pukekohe, 2022
Another emotional drive from van Gisbergen at Pukekohe’s final Supercars event last year where he took two out of three victories including the last to be held at the venue. Again, Tickford Racing’s Waters provided the competition in what some stunning battles, but van Gisbergen got the upper hand. Not one to display much emotion post-race, van Gisbergen was clearly overcome as he crossed the line.
BONUS: NASCAR win in Chicago
Van Gisbergen shocked the established NASCAR Cup drivers at the inaugural Chicago street race to win and earn a spot on Trackhouse Racing’s roster in 2024. Qualifying third, van Gisbergen needed to comeback from 18th during the race as he charged to victory to become the first debutant in 60 years to greet the chequered flag. Lauded by drivers such as Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott and racer turned commentator Dale Earnhardt Jr, van Gisbergen will doing more in the US next year.