UPDATE: The request for comment to Trackhouse Racing from TobyChristie.com has been fulfilled. A representative for the organization says: “Trackhouse Racing is not commenting on these reports at this time.”
Shane van Gisbergen – a three-time champion in the Repco Supercars Championship – is expected to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut later this season, as the latest member of Trackhouse Racing’s PROJECT 91 program.
According to a report from V8Sleuth.com, the 33-year-old driver’s debut is expected to coincide with NASCAR’s first-ever street course race, scheduled in Chicago during the first weekend in July.
In speaking with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio last month, Justin Marks, co-owner of Trackhouse Racing, revealed that there would be a new driver aboard the No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro later this year.
? "The deal is done."@JustinMarksTH says the next @THProject91 entry is buttoned up and ready to go.
?? "It's gonna be somebody that has got very, very different experience from #NASCAR bit in some ways is actually perfectly suited for a Cup race."
Any guesses on who?! ?? pic.twitter.com/COcdOU6mBt
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) March 29, 2023
“It’s going to be somebody that has got very, very different experience from NASCAR but in some ways is actually perfectly suited for a Cup race,” Marks said. “This is somebody who has not raced in America very much at all, but I think is going to be able to go to this particular race and make some real noise. I’m excited about that.”
According to the report from V8 Sleuth, released on Friday, an official announcement on the partnership between Trackhouse and Van Gisbergen could come as early as next week.
Created by Trackhouse Racing in 2022, PROJECT91 is designed a bring together a star-studded lineup of drivers to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series, in order to improve the series’ international reach.
The entry, which appropriately carries the No. 91, has contested a pair of NASCAR Cup Series events thus far, both with Formula One World Champion, Kimi Raikkonen.
Raikkonen debuted in the NASCAR Cup Series last August at Watkins Glen, before returning to the third Trackhouse Racing entry earlier this season at Circuit of The Americas, where he scored a career-best 29th.
TobyChristie.com has reached out to Trackhouse Racing for confirmation or comment on the following reports but has yet to be met with a response. Should any comment be passed along, it will be added to this story
