KIWI SUPERCAR CHAMPIONS TEAM UP FOR 24 HOURS OF DAYTONA

Trackhouse Racing, who run van Gisbergen in NASCAR, has paired the New Zealanders in the No.91 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the GT Daytona (GTD) PRO class in the prestigious 63rd annual Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 25-26. The four-strong driver line-up includes NASCAR Driver Connor Zilisch and longtime sports car racer Ben Keating.

Van Gisbergen, who is currently home in Auckland racing speedway at Western Springs, says, “This is a dream come true to get to drive alongside Scotty, Connor and Ben. I love the 24 Hours of Daytona and it’s awesome to do this with this team. Justin, Chevrolet and TF Sport have done a great job putting this all together.”

McLaughlin, who claimed his Downunder crowns in a Ford, returned to the General for Penske’s IndyCar programme. He is excited about the opportunity to race alongside SVG, “When the opportunity came up from General Motors to run with Ben, Connor and Shane, I jumped at it straight away. I’ve always wanted to run an endurance race in a Chevrolet Corvette, and I could not imagine a better group to join. I am confident we have a real chance of winning a Rolex with this team. Shane and I have so much history racing against each other, including some time as teammates. He is one of the best racers I’ve ever competed against, so it’ll be great to be on his side again for Daytona. Connor is a young star who’s going to be around for a long time, and Ben has won Le Mans and a World Championship in a Corvette. We’re going to have some fun.”

Trackhouse has fielded NASCAR Cup Series cars since 2021, visiting victory lanes eight times, with drivers Ross Chastain, Daniel Suárez, and Van Gisbergen, all of whom are Chevrolets. It joined the MotoGP grid in 2024, bringing an American team back to the pinnacle of motorcycle racing for the first time in over a decade. Trackhouse Racing owner and founder Justin Marks says, “Participating in the Rolex 24 has been a dream since the inception of Trackhouse Racing. We wanted to ensure we could enter with a top-notch partner in Chevrolet and TF Sport and a driver lineup that could compete for the victory. We feel like this group we have put together can compete for the trophy.”

With three Supercars titles each, the New Zealand racers have built impressive post-touring car careers in the United States. Van Gisbergen's victory in the NASCAR Cup Series and multiple Xfinity series wins paved his way to a full-time Cup Series drive in 2025.

After his championship hat trick, McLaughlin swapped tin tops for open-wheelers, driving for the powerhouse Penske team in IndyCar. Since 2020, he has recorded seven race wins, and for the last two seasons, he has finished third in the championship.

The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R will start its second season of competition at the Rolex 24 following an impressive debut season in 2024, winning 11 races, claiming 12 pole positions and capturing the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD PRO Manufacturers Championship for Chevrolet.

The Trackhouse Racing Powered by TF Sport team makes its on-track debut during a three-day test called the Roar Before the Rolex 24 on Jan. 16-19 and returns for practice, qualifying for the 24-hour race on