Opinion by Shaun Summerfield
“I’m going to race my quad bike in New Zealand next year,” Shane van Gisbergen as simple and straight forward as ever, as he addressed his Stone Brothers Team during the set up for the weekends racing in Winton.
And with that, the immensely talented driver, effectively ended his V8 Supercar career.
Personally, I doubt there was anything rash about such a massive decision. Still, in a sport where competitive seats are a precious commodity, this was a bolt from the blue.
At 23, the Giz is still the youngest regular driver in V8 Supercars, but he also boasts a solid résumé thanks to over five years in the series.

His departure came as he sits fifth in the series; only the powerhouse cars from the Triple 8 and Ford Performance Racing outfits sit ahead of the young Kiwi.

So whatever the problems in the relationship, Van Gisbergen and SBR have still been performing. There have been signs of cracks, most recently at Bathurst when an epic failure in the form of miscounted laps, ruined any chance of success.

Even as a 16 year old, drifting his Formula Ford around Pukekohe’s Sweeper, it was very clear that ‘the Giz’ was a phenomenally gifted driver and a true natural. This God given talent doesn’t always equal results in a top level series though. Often success comes down to driving to numbers, finding that optimum sweet spot, lap after lap. All that driving the wheels off a car does is ruins your tyres.

But throw in rain and Van Gisbergen was incredible. Just take Sandown in 2008, when as a teen, he made the rest of the Supercar stars look rather average as he made he made the Falcon dance around the sodden circuit on his way to a maiden podium finish.

This sums up the man really; he is a driver who just wants to drive. He dreams of being V8 Supercar drivers, but he is just as happy drifting around Manfield or jumping his quad bike.

I for one can’t help but feel that all he wants is to be happy.