Shane van Gisbergen, who is now celebrated as one of the best road course drivers and a growing star in NASCAR, once came close to quitting racing entirely. Before achieving success in NASCAR and winning multiple Supercars championships, van Gisbergen faced a difficult period in his career that nearly stopped his progress.
In an interview with Jeff Gluck for The Athletic’s 12 Questions segment, van Gisbergen opened up about this challenging phase and how he overcame it. He shared,
“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,”
revealing the turning point that kept his career alive.
Challenges with Stone Brothers Racing and Team Changes
Van Gisbergen described this time as filled with legal struggles and public pressure, but he focused on his goal despite the distractions. By ignoring outside noise, he managed to win his first race with a new team, which marked the beginning of his comeback.
He explained why he nearly walked away from racing: it wasn’t a lack of passion but frustration.
“Well, I love racing. It was just a bad time and a lot of s**t going wrong. The team (Stone Brothers Racing) had sort of gone bad; they changed ownership, and … I didn’t want to drive there,”
van Gisbergen noted.
His dissatisfaction stemmed from changes in the team‘s operations, particularly the switch in manufacturers. He said,
“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 approach contributed to poor performance and increased van Gisbergen’s frustration.
Behind the Scenes Conflict and Legal Disputes
The pressure inside the team left van Gisbergen feeling isolated and unwilling to publicly share his feelings, allowing others to control the story. He reflected that misinformation spread, suggesting he was depressed or disloyal to the team. He now regrets not being more honest with fans and the media to clarify the situation.
During this low period, van Gisbergen planned to take a break from racing and live simply at his parents’ pool apartment while stepping back from the sport. Eventually, Stone Brothers Racing agreed to release him from his contract covering 2013 to 2015, formalizing this with a short termination agreement.
Despite this, less than two months later, van Gisbergen announced his intention to compete in V8 Supercars for a different team in 2013. This decision went against the termination agreement’s terms. His dissatisfaction with SBR’s direction fueled this move, though he had not disclosed his issues during contract talks. Stone Brothers Racing, feeling betrayed, pursued legal action against van Gisbergen.
How the Conflict Shaped van Gisbergen’s Career
This legal and personal conflict tested van Gisbergen’s determination but ultimately became a defining moment. He endured the difficulties and emerged much stronger, with the resilience fans now witness in his dominant performances in NASCAR road courses. His experience during those turbulent years helped mold the racer who continues to make an impact on the sport.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen quit Supercars?
A. Van Gisbergen left Supercars after a successful debut in the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing. He won a race in Chicago that year.
When asked why he left Supercars, he explained he did not enjoy it anymore. “I hated that car,” he remarked about the Gen3 Camaro.
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen leave Supercars?
A. van Gisbergen talked about leaving Supercars because he no longer found the races enjoyable. He expressed strong dislike for the Gen3 Camaro. He described it as a boring car that was difficult to drive at high speeds. Pushing the car too hard often made it perform worse or go slower.