Red Bull welcomes Shane van Gisbergen
Red Bull Racing Australia brings in the New Year with the launch of the 2016 livery and the addition of Shane Van Gisbergen to the team for this year’s V8 Supercars season.
After a successful year in 2015, securing its sixth Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 win and the V8 Supercars Teams Championship, Red Bull Racing Australia is confident of a flying start when Van Gisbergen makes his debut at the Clipsal 500 at the wheel of the No. 97 Holden Commodore VF.
With 11 race wins, 48 podiums and a distinctive style that’s made him stand out from the crowd, the 26-year-old Kiwi driver has long been tipped as a future V8 Supercars champion. Finishing fourth in the 2015 Drivers Championship, Van Gisbergen has proved his strength in the category, showing no signs of slowing down.
“We are very excited to have Shane onboard, I don’t think there is a Supercar fan out there that doesn’t smile at his on-track antics,” said Team Manager Mark Dutton.
“He is a true racer and a likeable character; he will fit in perfectly here at the team.”
After being announced as the third driver to join Triple Eight Race Engineering’s expanded portfolio early last year alongside Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes, Shane Van Gisbergen is ready kick off the season with his new team.
“I'm pretty excited for this year; it has been a while since it was first announced, so it is a pretty cool feeling seeing the livery and everything coming together in the build-up for the season,” said Van Gisbergen.
“I am very impressed with the team so far – it is easy to see why Red Bull Racing Australia has won so many races, Bathursts and Championships.”
Unlike anything seen from the Red Bull stable before, the new season war paint is set to impress.
“I love the 2016 livery, the car looks more dynamic. A livery is not only controlled by looks, but with the multi-race formats of V8 Supercars events, there has to be a certain level of practicality that other motorsport categories don’t need to worry about. We are constantly trying to balance this while pushing the boundaries” said Dutton.
Steering the No. 88 Red Bull Holden, and sure to be battling at the front of the pack with his new teammate, will be six-time series champion Whincup, who is making a special guest appearance at the 2016 Summernats at Canberra’s Exhibition Park this weekend on Sunday 10 January to give the crowds a chance to see the 2016 V8 'bull' in the flesh.
“It will be cool to push myself against Craig and Jamie and learn as much as I can off them, both on track and off in order to all get the best results for our teams,” said Van Gisbergen.
