Van Gisbergen reveals stunning Ambrose tribute

Shane van Gisbergen will race a stunning Marcos Ambrose tribute livery at this weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Darlington.

Van Gisbergen is following Ambrose’s footsteps by following the path of dominating Supercars before taking on NASCAR and will appropriately don the cap to the 2003 and 2004 champion by racing his most familiar livery in America.

The usually white #97 Kaulig Racing Camaro has been covered by the famous yellow and black colours Ambrose raced at Richard Petty Motorsport.

Van Gisbergen will race with these colours at the historic Darlington Raceway, which will be held at 3.30am this Sunday.

Marcos Ambrose releases his emotions after becoming the first Australian to win a NASCAR Cup Series race in 2011. Photo by LAT Photo USA

The livery itself is nearly identical to what Ambrose raced with the same style and even the #97 having the same font as the #9. The only major change is Aussie company Quad Lock being the main backer instead of Stanley/Dewalt.

The Kiwi currently sits 15th in the NASCAR Xfinity Series standings having finished in the top 20 in seven of the 10 races.

Ambrose used the livery with the #9 from 2011-2013, while there was a slight tweak to the paint scheme in his final season in 2014.

This era was Ambrose’s most successful in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Marcos Ambrose hunted down Brad Keslowski on the final lap at Watkins Glen in 2012. Image by
LAT Photo USA

Having come close to wins in 2009 and 2010 at JTG Daugherty Racing, a return to Ford in 2011 helped the breakthrough finally become possible.

Ambrose became the first Australian to win a NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen by passing Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch with two laps to go.

Marcos Ambrose takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Canada, Image: LAT South

During that same year in 2011, Ambrose carried those colours to victory lane in the second tier what was then called the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Canadian Formula 1 venue Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Marcos Ambrose carried the livery into the generation of car in 2013. Image: Brian Czobat / LAT

The #9 went back to back at Watkins Glen again in 2012, which proved to be another thriller with the two-time Supercars champion passing Keselowski at the final corner.

Ambrose came close to more success on the road courses and some ovals in 2013 and 2014 but things did not fall his way before retiring at the end his fourth season at Richard Petty Motorsports.

Marcos Ambrose had a tweak to his #9 livery for his final NASCAR season in 2014. Photo by Eric Gilbert / Motorsport.com

Van Gisbergen in the Xfinity Series joins many in the NASCAR Cup Series field which will run a number of retro liveries this weekend at Darlington.

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