Two-time Supercar champion Shane van Gisbergen is looking to make a return to European racing.
While his focus remains on the Supercars championship, van Gisbergen enjoys competing in other series around the world.
‘SVG’ has often competed outside of his Triple Eight Race Engineering Supercar, racing and winning the New Zealand Grand Prix, and the Battle of Jacks Ridge while in New Zealand over the 2020/’21 offseason.
The Kiwi has been successful in international GT racing, winning the 2016 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, taking a second at the 2015 24 hours of Daytona, as well as racking up strong performances at the Bathurst 12 hour, including a win in 2016.
Triple Eight’s GT World Challenge Australia programme provides van Gisbergen with a link to Mercedes, though the border restrictions in New Zealand and Australia have prevented him from going overseas.
Once restrictions ease SVG is looking forward to the opportunity to race outside of Australia.
“I’d love to get back to Europe,” van Gisbergen told This Week with Will Buxton.
“In another [two years] the World Endurance Championship goes to GT3. I’d love to come and do that.
“I’ll keep racing Supercars full-time, I love the series. But I really miss the European style of racing; super intense but a lot of fun as well.”
SVG has long wanted to race at Le Mans, something that was close to becoming a reality before the Covid-19 pandemic made travelling to the event difficult.
“I got close in a P2 car last year, but obviously COVID made that quite difficult [to travel],” van Gisbergen said.
“Hopefully next year or the year after in GT3 I’ll try and get a seat. It’s at the top of every driver’s list, so it’s hard to get into something there.”
Van Gisbergen will be back in his Triple Eight Race Engineering Supercar, when the 2022 championship kicks off at Newcastle March 4-6.
Main image: Mark Horsburgh