Despite several reports in the New Zealand media to enforce this, David John hit out at his critics, telling Sunday News that negative media reports concerning Team Kiwi Racing's future are aimed at undermining the team's development.
John went further in bringing Van Gisbergen's loyalties into question.
“Shane needs to make a decision whether his future is with Team Kiwi Racing or whether he is just using the team as a stepping stone for something else.”
That stepping stone could be a seat at Stone Brothers Racing in 2008, after the #9 car was vacated by Russell Ingall at the end of this year's championship.
“I see the potential for TKR and Shane as a combination to be a very strong competitor in the V8 Supercars championship - a consistent top-10 runner even.”
“It is a very bright future but only very bright if these vindictive parties stop making accusations in the marketplace that they know are damn-well false.”
Stone Brothers Racing has been quick to ensure the services of Van Gisbergen long-term, with the young Kiwi contracted to the team until 2010, and merely sub-contracted to TKR.
John also told the Sunday News that his team has the ability to provide Van Gisbergen with equal equipment to SBR.
“We've got the opportunity to provide Shane with exactly the same equipment or gear at this point in time as the Stone Brothers guys.”
“If he wants to go to SBR, he's not going forward because we can provide exactly the same equipment, car, engine programme the whole lot.”
However with the team's main success only coming through forming technical partnerships with Paul Morris Motorsports, Ford Performance Racing and now Stone Brothers Racing, his claims seem baseless if SBR decide to terminate their services for the team in 2008.
There is no question that Van Gisbergen would be ‘going forward' should he be offered the second seat at SBR ahead of other candidates – Steve Owen and David Besnard.
