V8 Supercars10:50pm 1 February 2013
At Winton, Friday morning 16th November 2012, Shane van Gisbergen asked if all the SBR travelling race crew could be assembled first thing in the morning.
SVG informed the race crew that he wasn’t enjoying his racing and he was going to take a year off and might race quad bikes for fun.
SVG’s statement that he was not enjoying his racing was no surprise. This was clear enough at the previous race meets at Bathurst and the Gold Coast 600 where it was almost impossible to get SVG to attend autograph sessions and sometimes even communicate with his engineer and crew.
SVG was very clear that he wanted a year off and wasn’t going to race again unless he wanted too, not because others wanted him to race. He was going to live in his parent’s pool apartment and ‘chill out’ for a year.
In the circumstances, SBR agreed to release SVG from his 2013, 2014 and 2015 driving contract. SBR and SVG signed a brief termination document.
To protect itself and its sponsors SBR required SVG to agree not to test, practice or race any V8 Supercar in 2013. The termination document allowed SVG to race anything other than a V8 Supercar in 2013 if he so wished. The termination document allowed SVG to do whatever he wished from 2014 onwards.
The last time Ross Stone of SBR spoke with SVG was in early December when SVG returned the keys for his car. SVG was returning to New Zealand the next day. On that occasion again SVG confirmed he needed a break from racing.
SBR took steps it considered were in the best interests of SVG’s health and well-being to the detriment of SBR and stakeholders by releasing SVG from his three-year driving contract.
Less than two months later SVG now proposes, through the media, to race a V8 Supercar for another team in 2013 contrary to the termination agreement. SVG has explained his move on the basis of dissatisfaction with the direction in which SBR was heading. At no time during the termination process did SVG express any such dissatisfaction with SBR; in fact the opposite was communicated to SBR management on numerous occasions.
To say that SBR is displeased with the conduct of SVG is to say the least.
SBR will not be making any further comment regarding this matter. SBR is considering its legal position and whether it is worthwhile holding SVG to his promises.
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I hope, and this is only a hope (and its only basis is based as a passionate fan of the sport) that SVG has good people around him.
If this statement is accurate (and I have no reason to believe it not to be) then I am not sure he does.
The issue isn’t fans, I’ll still support him as a future star of the sport and most people will forgive and forget. The problem for him is the REC holders and team management and the damaged trust caused by this.
I’ll admit to having lost a little respect for the guy after the handling of this whole thing. It wouldn’t of been hard (again not knowing the business aspect of the sport) to be straight, say the direction isn’t too his liking and perhaps he wants to jump ship. All of this done BEFORE signing the new deal with SBR. Particularly given the mentoring and faith shown in him from a young age from SBR.
My only hopes are that SVG hasn’t burn’t too many bridges in this action and that in consideration of SBR’s position, that it doesn’t hinder what is likely to be an amazing season with Erebus, Tim and Lee.
I think there is a lot more to this than what we`ve been allowed to know……..SVG`s attitude to SBR changed as stated, but was this because rumours of an impending change of direction for SBR, but SVG not fully informed of all implications about new Vehicle, ie, Mercedes, and Erebus Racing taking control, and with SBR “ditching” Ford.
These types of Dealings do not take place overnight, and there would have been lots of discussions between the Stone Brothers and Erebus well before any announcements were made. I think SVG was right to get out of SBR if the internal climate was not as promised, or as contractual agreements stated, and as for SBR chasing SVG, there is no SBR involved in Supercars ( as far as I`m aware )…..there is no SBR entering a Ford for the Supercars, so how can a contract still be binding if SBR has been bought out by Erebus. Yes, there is going to be a lot more said and heard about this, but if loyalty is the main issue, why didn`t SBR stay loyal to Ford…and keep on racing…?
well said !
Let him race.He is young and obviously not getting what he wanted from SBR,or not happy with the move to Mercedes Erebus.He has obviously rankled some feathers but for the sake of the sport let bygones be bygones and drop it.Let him race.This is not the Americas cup I dont want to see lawyers running the racetrack.If he made a mistake I would say it came more from mis-management from both SBR and whoever else is involved. SVG probably felt unable to express his true thoughts in the environment that was evolving in SBR with all the changes.Let him race.
Simon`s right……..and I agree, SVG has rankled the Stone Brothers by leaving, but, mistakes were made on both sides, possibly caused by the pressure of Erebus calling the ” shots “. Leave the Lawyers out of it, look at the America`s Cup, a race that used to be raced and won on water, but instead appears to be now, out of the water and in the Courtroom. SVG has a future in Racing, and he does have to make his own choices`, and learn from those decisions.
Well Jimmy and Ross as a KIWI, I held you in high esteem, but these sort of legal actions are not what you are about. As I worked in the area you were born, I heard many stories about your life here. Including talks with, your brother, and seen you formula ford.I am afraid you have both let your self’s down and will no longer see you in the same light. Drop it Shane is doing the same as you both did and just trying to move ahead. We all make mistakes and UPSET a few people, on the way. Take a had look at your selves.