It is now confirmed that the three-time Supercars champ Shane van Gisbergen to drive Project 91 at the Chicago street course.
It was widely speculated for a couple of weeks now that van Gisbergen could be driving for Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 program. Having already stated a desire to run in the Cup Series, the Supercars driver will finally get his chance to make his debut when the Cup Serieshe 2007 Formula One champion and 21-time Grand Prix winner, visit Chicago on July 2.
Trackhouse makes it official: Three-time Supercars champ Shane van Gisbergen to drive the Project91 at Chicago street course.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 18, 2023
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“I can honestly say I have dreamed about an opportunity in NASCAR, but really never thought it would become a reality,” van Gisbergen said. “I can’t wait to get to the states to meet everyone and prepare for Chicago. It’s NASCAR’s first time on the streets of Chicago, so in some ways everyone will be a rookie like me, but I don’t underestimate that it’s going to be a huge challenge.”
The Project 91 initiative from Trackhouse Racing will put “world-class drivers from other disciplines to compete at NASCAR’s highest level”.
Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 Formula One champion and 21-time Grand Prix winner, was the first driver to be fielded with the program last season at Watkins Glen. He raced again this season at the Circuit of the Americas.
However, back in March, Justin Marks, Trackhouse Racing’s owner, revealed that Raikkonen would not return for the next race and that they had a done deal with a new driver which turned out to be van Gisbergen.