Fresh from claiming his maiden Supercars Drivers’ Championship, Shane van Gisbergen entered the 2017 season as the benchmark of the category. Driving the #97 Red Bull Holden Racing Team Commodore, he began the year in outstanding form, winning multiple races early in the season and appearing well placed to defend his crown. His speed was unquestionable, but a series of incidents, penalties and misfortune throughout the year ultimately made a successful title defence increasingly difficult.
Despite those setbacks, van Gisbergen remained one of the fastest and most entertaining drivers on the grid. His aggressive racecraft, exceptional car control and ability to perform on street circuits regularly saw him fighting at the front of the field. While consistency proved elusive compared to teammate Jamie Whincup and championship rivals Scott McLaughlin and Fabian Coulthard, van Gisbergen continued to deliver race-winning performances and kept himself in the championship battle well into the closing stages of the season.
As the championship reached its dramatic finale at the inaugural Newcastle Street Circuit, van Gisbergen remained a constant threat at the front of the field. While the championship ultimately belonged to teammate Jamie Whincup, van Gisbergen’s pace throughout the season confirmed that he would remain a major force in the category for years to come.
Van Gisbergen finished the year fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, a result that didn’t fully reflect his outright pace. The season reinforced his reputation as one of Supercars’ most naturally gifted talents and demonstrated that, even when a title defence falls short, his speed and determination made him a constant threat. It would also provide valuable lessons that helped lay the foundation for the championship success that followed in the years ahead.
