TRIPLE Eight Race Engineering team principal Jamie Whincup is hopeful if realistic about Shane van Gisbergen’s chances of returning for the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship enduros.
Van Gisbergen will jet off to the United States at season’s end to pursue his burgeoning NASCAR career.
But the Kiwi might not be gone for good from Supercars, having this month told The Dale Jr Download podcast of his willingness to race for Triple Eight in the enduros while his schedule still potentially allows him to.
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Van Gisbergen is set to compete in a mix of NASCAR divisions next year before transitioning into a full-time Cup Series role, which would involve racing almost every weekend.
That means 2024 could be his last chance to line up in the Bathurst 1000 for the foreseeable future.
“We’d love to have him back, so absolutely it’s on the cards,” Whincup told V8 Sleuth when asked about the prospect of having SVG as a co-driver.
“We haven’t spoken about it yet but for sure, if he’s available, we’d love to have him back.
“I think the whole series would love to have him back but it’s all just going to come down to his program next year.
“It’s probably going to be pretty intense so it’s a slim chance but hopefully he can find some time to come back and do the enduros, whatever that looks like.”
If it does eventuate, Triple Eight could have even more of an all-star co-driver line-up next year: Whincup, van Gisbergen and Craig Lowndes.
A two-year extension (through 2025) was yesterday announced for Lowndes, with the intention of him staying as the face of a Triple Eight wildcard.
Van Gisbergen could essentially be a direct replacement for Richie Stanaway, who will switch to Grove Racing for a 2024 full-time seat.
Triple Eight’s primary drivers next year will be Broc Feeney and Will Brown.
