Final week Richard Childress Racing made official that Brown will drive its #33 Chevrolet within the 9 June Cup race, turning into the newest Supercars standout to enter the US inventory automotive racing scene.
Final July, van Gisbergen grew to become the primary driver in additional than 60 years to win a Cup race in his debut when he took victory within the inaugural Chicago Road Race driving for Trackhouse Racing.
The victory served because the instigator for the Kiwi to maneuver to NASCAR competitors this season, the place he’s working full-time within the Xfinity Sequence whereas additionally working part-time in Cup races.
Reigning Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki additionally made his Cup debut final yr with RCR on the Indianapolis street course, whereas Cam Waters has entered two Truck Sequence races this season and is ready to make his personal Cup debut with RFK Racing at the same Sonoma event as Brown.
Brown joined Triple Eight from Erebus as van Gisbergen’s substitute and leads the Supercars standings with three victories to this point this season.
Talking to Autosport, he acknowledged that van Gisbergen had additionally been the instigator for his impending first style of NASCAR.
“You already know, Shane actually opened that door for lots of people and to be trustworthy, for me,” Brown mentioned. “I mentioned the opposite day it was solely 4 years in the past I used to be attempting to get into Supercars. Now I’m with one of the best workforce in Australian motorsport.
Will Brown, Triple Eight Race Engineering Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Photograph by: Edge Photographics
“You already know, you’ll be able to’t go larger. And now, I’ve been supplied this chance to go to NASCAR. For me 4 years in the past, loads of this wasn’t even on the horizon. I didn’t suppose I’d ever get the chance to race NASCAR.
“So, I’m identical to dwelling the dream. I’m joyful about it. It’s nice. However yeah, I believe Shane’s actually allowed this to occur in a means with what he’s finished.”
Brown’s personal curiosity in NASCAR was fostered by watching races on TV however he dived far deeper into it following van Gisbergen’s shock win in Chicago and his subsequent capacity to maneuver to full-time NASCAR competitors.
Whereas van Gisbergen has already dedicated to a NASCAR profession, Brown’s ambitions are rather more in flux.
“It’s superior to come back over right here and take a look at your self in opposition to one of the best in America and one of the best on the planet as effectively,” Brown mentioned. “So, you recognize we’re type of over on our facet of the world and we’re very aggressive.
“However it’s not till you head abroad have you learnt what kind of degree you’re at. So, for me, it’s about doing that. I like what I’m doing in Australia with Purple Bull and Purple Bull Racing. If I might do just a few races a yr in America annually, I’d like to do it.
“So, hopefully, it opens up just a few just a few doorways to have the ability to try this subsequent.”
RCR is a pure match for Brown, who competed with the organisation’s Cup drivers, Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch, in a World Racing League occasion at Circuit of the Americas final December.
Will Brown, Triple Eight Race Engineering Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Photograph by: Edge Photographics
RCR and Supercars groups Erebus Motorsport and Picture Racing preserve a relationship that has seen each events go to one another of their native international locations, together with workforce proprietor Richard Childress’ go to to final season’s Supercars finale at Adelaide.
“I’ve stayed in contact with Will since he came visiting in December to race with us, and he has confirmed to be a disciplined and passionate racer,” mentioned Childress.
“His begin with RCR is a continuation of a long-standing funding that RCR has made to find and honing expertise and searching past U.S. motorsports.”
Brown mentioned he hopes the Supercars-to-NASCAR pipeline will quickly begin working in the wrong way.
“It could be superior for us if we might get one or two of the NASCAR guys out right here on the finish of the yr to race our final spherical in Supercars,” he mentioned.
“You already know, carry them over right here and see how they compete over in Australia and get a little bit of an alliance going there that now we have type of that mutual respect. You already know, the vehicles are comparable. The racing we do is analogous. Clearly, the ovals are a bit completely different.
“However, you recognize, hopefully like I say, we will get a little bit of an alliance going there.”