Supercars 2023: Triple Eight has confirmed champion Shane van Gisbergen’s exit from the team and Will Brown as his replacement from next year
Triple Eight has confirmed Shane van Gisbergen’s exit from the powerhouse squad to chase his NASCAR dreams - and they’ve officially locked in his replacement.
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Triple Eight has locked in Will Brown on a three-year deal to replace Shane van Gisbergen as it confirmed the “world class” series champion’s exit from the team and Supercars at the end of this year to chase his NASCAR dreams.
After months of speculation about van Gisbergen’s future, the powerhouse squad officially announced it had secured the “exciting” Brown to jump into the New Zealand ace’s seat from next year in a silly season coup.
Brown’s signing came as Triple Eight agreed to allow van Gisbergen out of the final year of his contract in 2024 to pursue his ambitions of a racing career in the United States.
Title rivals Erebus Motorsport last week revealed it had also agreed to release Brown from the final year of his contract, paving the way for his move to Triple Eight.
Brown, 25, has emerged as one of the most exciting talents on the Supercars grid and sits second in this year’s championship battle behind teammate Brodie Kostecki.
The Toowoomba pilot has taken an equal season-high four race wins so far this year.
Triple Eight boss Jamie Whincup said the squad had never wanted to stand in the way of van Gisbergen’s US racing dreams, but described the recruitment of Brown as a “perfect fit” for the team as his replacement.
“As we’ve made clear from the very start, Triple Eight wholeheartedly supports SVG’s decision to showcase his world class talent abroad and we look forward to watching him continue to tear up the track like we witnessed in Chicago last month,” Whincup said.
“Will has been on our radar for many years since he was driving an ex-Triple Eight car in the Super2 championship.”
It's a return to a happy hunting ground for our championship leader!
— Supercars (@supercars) July 17, 2023
Will Brown secured his maiden Supercars win at Sydney Motorsport Park in 2021 🆠#RepcoSC#Supercarspic.twitter.com/zHZqVkrvem
“He is exciting to watch on track, very personable and most importantly, a really good fit to our Triple Eight culture.”
“The fact Broc (Feeney) and him grew up racing together and are friends away from the circuit is a bonus.
“Of course, we still have a fight on our hands to win the drivers’ and teams’ championship this season, and that remains Triple Eight’s immediate focus.”
Confirmation of van Gisbergen’s Triple Eight exit comes just days after he finished 10th in his second NASCAR Cup Series start, in Indianapolis on Monday.
As he became frustrated with the new Gen3 product and off-track politics, noise around a potential van Gisbergen switch to NASCAR has bubbled throughout the season.
It exploded after he seized the attention of the motorsport world when he became the first driver in 60 years to win on his Cup Series debut in the inaugural Chicago race last month.
Trackhouse Racing, who van Gisbergen made his two starts for in Chicago and Indianapolis, is the favourite to secure the Kiwi star. His racing itinerary is likely to include limited Cup Series appearances alongside a more extensive program in either the second-tier Xfinity Series or third-tier Truck Series as he comes to grips with oval racing.
Van Gisbergen will leave the Supercars series as one of its most accomplished and naturally talented drivers.
The Kiwi ace is a three-time series winner – 2016, 2021 and 2022 – and a two-time Bathurst 1000 champion (2020 and 2022 with Garth Tander).
Van Gisbergen sits fourth on the Supercars all-time list for race wins (79) behind Whincup, Craig Lowndes and Mark Skaife and holds the record for the most race wins in a season with 21 in his dominant 2022 campaign.
Van Gisbergen sits third in the Supercars championship standings, 54 points behind series leader Brodie Kostecki, ahead of this weekend’s round at Tailem Bend.
SvG’s SUPERCARS STANDING
Championships: Three – 2016, 2021 and 2022
Bathurst 1000 wins: Two – 2020 and 2022 with Garth Tander
Race wins: 79 (fourth all-time)
Podiums: 174 (Second all-time behind Whincup)
Pole positions: 48 (Fourth all-time)
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Originally published as Supercars 2023: Triple Eight has confirmed champion Shane van Gisbergen’s exit from the team and Will Brown as his replacement from next year
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