So How Great was SVG in V8 Supercars?

This year has been nothing short of historic, with SVG having the most wins of any Cup Series rookie, with 4. And with all those wins coming at road courses, SVG also broke the Cup Series record for most road course wins in a season. So is he really that great, or is his experience giving him inherent advantages?

Let’s Look Back at SVG’s V8 Supercar Career to Find Out

He began racing in V8 Supercars in 2007, but failed to show the promise he had demonstrated in the lower series. In 2008, he went full-time in V8 Supercars with Stone Brothers Racing, the same team that won 3 driver championships, 2 of which were with future NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose. Though they aren’t the same team they were 3 years ago. Mixed with his inexperience, it was a slow start, to say the least. SVG only had a single podium in his first two seasons there.

In 2010, SVG came into his own, earning nine podiums and finishing in the top 10 in the points for the first time, finishing in 6th. And in his 4th full-time season, he finally got his 1st career win in his home country of New Zealand, becoming the 1st Kiwi to win in NZ. Stone Brothers shut down at the end of 2012, so I had to move on.

SVG Moved to Tenko Autosports

They were a team that had never won before, and many doubted if this was the right move. Doubters he proved wrong in his 2nd race with Tenko, winning the team’s 1st ever race. He went on to win nine total races there and even finished 2nd in points in 2014.

After 2015, he moved to the JGR of V8 Supercars in Triple Eight Race Engineering! In his 1st season there, he found himself in a tight title fight with teammate Jamie Whincup, the Dale Earnhardt Sr. of Australia, when they entered the finale in Sydney.

SVG’s Title Defining Drive

His championship chances looked done when, on lap 10, SVG tried to pass Winterbottom, only for them to collide, causing SVG to spin and get a drive-through penalty, which dropped him to 18th. SVG, with relentless pace and aggression plus precise decision-making, stormed back up the field and finished 3rd, clinching his 1st ever title! He then won the finale, earning his 8th win and 18th podium of the season. He regressed in 2017, though, finishing 4th in points with five wins and 12 podiums.

The SVG vs. McLaughlin Era

From 2018 to 2020, V8 Supercars were taken over by two Kiwis, SVG and now Penske IndyCar driver Scott McLaughlin. While he never beat him to a championship, he gave him plenty of challenges. With the 2 Kiwis combining for 56 wins from 2018 to 2020, SVG won only 17 of those.

SVG finished runner-up in points to Scotty twice in a row in 2018 and 2019. They produced iconic moments, like in 2018 when, on the last lap, McLaughlin ran out of fuel and SVG passed him on the last lap. In 2020 at Townsville, with four to go, SVG moved McLaughlin out of the way, allowing SVG to take the lead and earn the win, which caused controversy.

Most importantly, he overcame his Bathurst 1000 curse. In 12 starts, he had finished 2nd twice but never won. But it was the unlucky 13th attempt in the cursed year of 2020 where he finally got it done. Overcoming qualifying 4th to win his 1st of 3 Bathurst 1000 victories!

SVG’s Dominance

In 2021, McLaughlin moved to IndyCar, and V8 Supercars were free from his dominance, only to be met with SVG’s own dominance. In 2021, he secured 14 wins and 23 podiums, followed by nine wins and 12 podiums in just 15 races, which marked his easy win of both titles. Notable drives included his performance at Sandown in 2022.

Whereafter, he broke his collarbone and three ribs in a motorbike accident. He qualified 17th, something that seemed to make his slim odds of winning turn to 0, as no driver in the history of the series had ever won a race from that low a starting spot.

So, he proved he was a one-of-a-kind talent when, injured with only 36 laps to race, he stormed from 17th to pass Waters for the lead on the last lap to take victory, which clinched him the 2022 title in the best possible way. Or when he passed Waters again on the last lap to win the last-ever race at Pukekohe Park Raceway, a historic venue for Kiwi race fans.

Final Thoughts

He possesses fearless and aggressive racecraft, complemented by an outspoken personality. It made him the Kyle Busch of V8 Supercars. And he’s bushwhacking with a bunch of Americans anytime he races on a road course in NASCAR. Thanks a bunch for reading!