Karting, Formula First, Formula Ford, ATV racing, rallysprints, classic rallying, V8 Supercars – Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen has competed in a bewildering range of motorsport disciplines and won races, rallies, series and championships at them all.
Van Gisbergen contested the New Zealand Grand Prix in early 2020, starting from pit lane to win the event outright. At the end of the same year, he won the classic category in the rally of Auckland and backed that with outright victory the following day at the Battle of Jacks Ridge rallysprint

Now, the 33-year old is setting his sights on a top performance at the 2022 Rally of New Zealand. Van Gisbergen is expected to drive a Race Torque-run Škoda Fabia R5, with former Australian champion Glen Weston as his navigator.

“For me, just competing in the event is going to be epic, to see the stages packed with fans, and having the service park on the Auckland waterfront, it is just going to be an awesome event,” he told the WRC’s website.

“I am looking forward to being part of it. I just want to do a good job and keep it straight, be there at the end and be part of this incredible event.”

It’s a radical move for the racer, who is currently also locked in battle for another V8 Supercar title. By the middle of June he had won nine of 16 V8 Supercar races, set seven fastest laps and stood on the podium more than any other driver in the championship.

Racing a Holden Commodore for Triple Eight team he has been allowed a contractual dispensation to compete in rallying – where he was second overall in a Red Bull liveried Škoda R5 – and in the GTE class at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, where he was fifth in class on debut.

Though competing at the punishing Le Mans endurance race ticked off a long-held ambition for van Gisbergen, rallying is a long - held passion handed down from dad Robert, who competed in group 4 Ford Escorts for several decades leading into the new century.

Before the Rally of New Zealand, van Gisbergen will also race ‘back home’ when the Supercars travels overseas for the first time since 2019 for a keenly anticipated return to New Zealand in September.

After two seasons impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, Supercars has received the all-clear to race again at Pukekohe Park Raceway south of Auckland. The Auckland Supersprint, to run from September 9-11, will be the final round before the Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama.

Supercars boss Shane Howard told media last month there have been rumours casting doubt on whether Pukekohe would go ahead “which is why we are happy to put them to rest and move forward with planning,” Howard said. “Getting to New Zealand in 2022 was one of our key objectives and, even with international freight challenges, we have a plan in place that will ensure our passionate Kiwi fans get to see the best touring car category in the world.” Born and bred in Auckland, van Gisbergen will be looking to add to his two Jason Richards Memorial trophies as the driver who scores the most points during a New Zealand round. “It’ll be awesome to return to New Zealand. They’ve been starved of Supercars for a couple of years so I can’t wait to go back. The crowd will hopefully be big and the support is always awesome. I’ve missed racing at home in front of those fans.”