Shane van Gisbergen Aims for Victory in Historic NASCAR Mexico City Race
Mexico City – Three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen prepares for the NASCAR Cup Series’ inaugural race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, targeting another milestone after his debut victory in Chicago nearly two years ago.
Having transitioned to full-time NASCAR competition, van Gisbergen seeks to leverage his road course skills in an environment that mirrors his Chicago triumph—an unfamiliar circuit combined with potential inclement weather. With four road/street races remaining in the regular season, this could be a crucial opportunity for him to secure a playoff spot.
“I feel like we should be up front. These are the types of tracks I’m good at, so we’ll see,” said van Gisbergen during Friday’s media session, acknowledging the uncertainty posed by the unique conditions of the Mexico City track. “Watching those NASCAR Mexico cars drive around, they look like they’re driving on ice.”
Van Gisbergen, however, expressed reluctance regarding wet conditions: “I absolutely hate racing in the rain, but I’m good at it. I’d rather it didn’t rain, but if it happens, we put the wets on and go,” reinforcing that he finds such conditions chaotic, despite his proficiency.
Significantly, while van Gisbergen initially struggled on ovals, his recent performance shows marked improvement. He achieved three top-20 finishes in the last four races, building upon a challenging start to the season that featured only one top-20 from the first ten.
Reflecting on his learning curve, he noted, “The cars are just chalk and cheese different. I feel like I’m learning everything again… we’ve been methodical, getting better every week.”
A victory this weekend would not only bolster his confidence but also secure his position in the playoffs, alleviating the pressure from his ongoing adaptation to oval racing. Preliminary practice sessions indicate competitive performance, with van Gisbergen finishing within the top ten, setting the stage for a potentially pivotal race.
Key Quotes:
- Van Gisbergen on the Mexico City Track: “It’s so hard to know what the car’s going to be like.”
- On Rain Racing: “I absolutely hate racing in the rain, but I’m good at it.”
As the NASCAR Cup Series heads to a new territory, all eyes will be on van Gisbergen to see if he can repeat his debut success in an unfamiliar but tantalizing environment.
