Triple Eight Racing is reportedly fully aware and supportive of a relationship between reigning Bathurst 1000 champion Shane van Gisbergen and team owner Jessica Dane.
According to Wide World of Sports, van Gisbergen and Dane’s relationship has been an “open secret” in the Supercars paddock for months.
Dane, who bought into Triple Eight Racing in 2017, is the daughter of the Banyo squad’s eponymous former team owner, Roland.
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She currently owns 30 per cent of Triple Eight Racing, with former driver Jamie Whincup and businessman Tony Quinn her co-owners.
Dane’s official title is Triple Eight Racing’s Commercial Operations Manager, handling the day-to-day running of operations, partnerships, sponsorships, HR and legal.
Reigning Supercars champion van Gisbergen signed a multi-year deal with Triple Eight Racing in 2020, which reportedly comes to an close at the end of the 2023 season
After winning this month’s Bathurst 1000, the 33-year-old broke Scott McLaughlin’s record for the most race wins in a single season with two race meetings remaining in 2022.
However, van Gisbergen perhaps celebrated his famous Bathurst victory a bit too much.
The New Zealander and co-driver Garth Tander delivered Holden the fairytale send-off as they crossed marginally ahead of duo Chaz Mostert and Fabian Coulthard at Mount Panorama.
In the wake of their victory, the tandem were lined up to appear on Channel 9’s Today Show but van Gisbergen was feeling the effects of a late night.
Van Gisbergen, looking like a shell of a man, rolled in late to the interview as Tander held down the fort.
Mere moments into the live cross with Karl Stefanovic, van Gisbergen offered up a wave before saying “I was here” and then exiting stage right to clear the contents of his stomach.
“We were quick yesterday but not so fast this morning,” Tander said when the pair appeared, with van Gisbergen wandering off just seconds later.
Tander later noted that van Gisbergen was “curled up in the foetal position in a corner somewhere.
“I’m not sure we’re going to hear from him any more this morning,” Tander laughed.
“It’s hard work doing 1000km around here, it was harder work getting him up this morning”.
