''Pretty impressive, I have to say. New Zealand has been crying out for a facility like this,'' he says, adding that he is itching to get out on the track.
Highlands' staff promptly placed their ''taxi'' - which is not any old run-around but a roughly 500hp Porsche Cayenne Turbo - at the Gold Coast-based Aucklander's disposal and he took me along for the ride.
The whole way around the 4.5km track, he murmurs admiringly, commenting on the length or tightness of corners, and then bursts out laughing going through Highlands owner Tony Quinn's favourite section - a dip, then up over the bridge.
''Wow, that's awesome,'' he chuckles.
Once we are parked up back at the base, Cromwell driver Paul Beattie wanders by, sniffs appreciatively and passes enthusiastic judgement on van Gisbergen's efforts.
''I've never smelt the brakes so hot,'' he says with a grin.
Highlands had ''hijacked'' van Gisbergen, who was in the region on a rare holiday with friend and fellow New Zealand V8 Super Tourer Series driver Andrew Waite, marketing and events manager Mel Kees said.
The Giz, as he is known, will meet members of the Highlands GT Club today, have a classroom session with them and then head out on the track for a practical session.
Lucky them, I say, as after a spin around the go-kart track in a tandem racer with him, I have to concur with Highlands owner Tony Quinn's description of van Gisbergen.
'' I reckon Shane's one of the nicest and most polite young men I've ever met. He's also an extremely talented driver. His mum and dad must be very proud,'' Mr Quinn said.
Such a gentleman - he even let me drive for a lap and praised my cornering ability, which was not a patch on his.
Mr Quinn's company, VIP Petfoods, sponsors van Gisbergen's Tekno Autosports team in the Australian V8 Supercar Series, where he is seventh at present.
Van Gisbergen will race at Highlands in the South Island Endurance Series and Highlands 101 endurance race from November 8 to 10.
