New Zealander and current Supercars points leader Shane van Gisbergen has revealed talks are in progress with TrackHouse Racing boss Justin Marks for a NASCAR cameo next year.
In an interview with Wide World of Sports, van Gisbergen revealed the talks are in progress yet dependent on the 2023 Supercars calendar which is yet to be announced.
“Well it all depends on our calendar,” said van Gisbergen to Wide World of Sports.
“Our calendar comes out so late these days, so I just need to wait and see what our calendar does. But yeah, I would love to do it.
“We did speak, but it’s all dependent on our calendar and what races I can do and if there’s time to get over there and back without upsetting Supercars.”
The cameo would see van Gisbergen appearing as a part of the ‘Project91’ campaign which was started by Marks this year to draw renowned international drivers to the series for TrackHouse.
The appearance would be a major coup for van Gisbergen, with this years Project91 racer being none-other than the ‘Iceman’ Kimi Raikkonen at Watkins Glen.
Raikkonen excelled in that race, running as high as eighth in wet conditions before being pushed into the barriers as the race entered its final stages.
For van Gisbergen, the cameo would further enhance his resume which includes an established Supercars career, IMSA cameos, GT World Challenge Australia appearances, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a strong rallying background, including a podium in his maiden Australian Rally Championship event this year.
The Nascar series uses a variety of track formats with it seen road courses are the most appealing to the Kiwi.
“I’d love to do a road course and have a go, for sure, it’s just getting the right opportunity,” van Gisbergen explained to Wide World of Sport.
“Obviously, they’ve got great equipment – the TrackHouse cars and team have been going really well.
“I’d love to have a go. It was cool watching Kimi [Raikkonen] do it as well.”
This creates five opportunities for van Gisbergen in 2023 to make an appearance in the series.
This includes at Circuit of the Americas, which also hosts the US Grand Prix for Formula 1 later in the year, Sonoma Raceway, the new Chicago street race, the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen International.
The Supercars season, which traditionally begins in March, could clash with the Circuit of the Americas round on March 26, whilst Sonoma remains as a strong possibility on June 11, around the time the Supercars mid-season break usually occurs.
The Chicago street race will follow those two on July 2, before the Indianapolis and Watkins Glen rounds run back-to-back on August 13 and August 20 respectively.
When Wide World of Sport asked van Gisbergen’s preference of track, he responded “I’ve raced Watkins before, so I know that one. All the other tracks are pretty good.
“I think they’ve got the Chicago street circuit for the first time next year as well. A street circuit would suit me, I reckon.
“That would be good as well because it’s a new track for everyone, so certainly that would help me get up to speed if everyone else is learning as well. That would be a good one, but let’s see.”
With the 2023 Supercars calendar yet to be revealed, only time will tell when and if the cameo is possible.
For now, van Gisbergen remains in New Zealand prepping for Rally New Zealand where he will compete in a Skoda Fabia R5 as he makes his FIA World Rally Championship debut this weekend.
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