Whincup opens up on van Gisbergen's future

Triple Eight Race Engineering Managing Director Jamie Whincup has opened up on the future of Shane van Gisbergen, after the Kiwi’s stunning drive to victory in yesterday’s NASCAR Cup race in Chicago.

Three-time Supercars champion van Gisbergen made history yesterday, becoming the first driver in 60 years to win in their first-ever NASCAR race.

The Red Bull Ampol Racing squad announced a contract extension for the two-time Bathurst 1000 winner in April, which was described as a multi-year extension.

However, van Gisbergen later revealed that he is only under contract through the end of 2024, which Whincup confirmed earlier today on Fox Sports News.

“He's only contractually bound to us for next year,” said the seven-time Supercars champion.

Speculation that the Kiwi could eyeing a move to NASCAR rapidly intensified following his Monday win, with suggestions that such a move could happen as soon as next year.

When asked about the subject, Whincup admitted even that option could be on the table.

“Sitting here right now, of course I'm trying to run the business as well as I possibly can,” he said.

“I need the best drivers, but if any driver, engineer, employee come to me and said, ‘Hey, I wanna, I, my dream is to, to go the other side of the world and do something else,’ then I'm not gonna stand in their way.”

“I want to open up opportunities for all my staff.”

Asked if van Gisbergen were to request an early termination of his contract, Whincup offered no push-back.

“I certainly wouldn't stand his way.”

With a NASCAR win in tow, the 34-year old Kiwi is currently on his way back to Australia for this weekend’s NTI Townsville 500, the sixth event of the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship season.

Winner of both races on the streets of Townsville last year, van Gisbergen is scheduled to make his 500th Supercars race start in Sunday’s Race 17.

Tickets for the NTI Townsville 500 can be purchased via Supercars.com and Ticketek.

Coverage of North Queensland’s biggest sporting event can be found on the Seven Networj and Foxtel, with streaming available on 7plus, Kayo and SuperView.