Essentially the most profitable workforce in Supercars Championship historical past will as soon as once more run Fords from 2026, with Triple Eight going again to the Blue Oval after a 16-season hiatus.
In a shock transfer, Ford Australia introduced at this time that Triple Eight Race Engineering – also referred to as Pink Bull Ampol Racing – will race the Mustang from 2026 onwards, returning to the model after departing on the finish of the 2009 season.
Between Triple Eight arriving in Australia in mid-2003 and 2009, the workforce raced the BA, BF and FG Falcons, successful the Bathurst 1000 3 times (2006, 2007 and 2008) with Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup, in addition to two titles with the latter (2008 and 2009).
Nonetheless, a funding dispute noticed Holden poach the workforce, which led to a interval of domination, leading to an extra seven Bathurst 1000 wins (2010, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023) and eight driver’s championships (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022) beneath the Holden and Chevrolet banners.
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Triple Eight successful the 2006 Bathurst 1000
Triple Eight’s return to Ford will are available the identical season that present Blue Oval workforce Walkinshaw Andretti United – as soon as the Holden manufacturing facility squad – strikes to Toyota, with the Japanese model coming to race its Supra.
The signing of Triple Eight is a large coup for Ford, which hasn’t been in competition to win the title or Bathurst because the new ‘Gen 3’ laws got here in at first of 2023.
Whereas Triple Eight homologated the Chevrolet Camaro for the championship – which has received all main titles previously two seasons – it’ll now be the workforce liable for the homologation of Ford’s challenger from 2026, taking up the position presently occupied by Dick Johnson Racing.
Ford’s determination to as soon as once more accomplice with Triple Eight was based mostly purely on the latter’s sheer dominance within the class, which has netted greater than 250 race wins.
“We’ve at all times admired Triple Eight’s unwavering dedication to excellence. Their engineering prowess and tireless pursuit of victory are nearly incomparable,” stated Ford Efficiency international director, Mark Rushbrook.
“However greater than that, there’s a shared historical past, a bond solid within the fires of competitors, that makes this partnership really feel so proper.”
“That is about trying ahead, about constructing a future collectively, and conquering new challenges”.
The partnership’s timing additionally aligns with the Pink Bull Method 1 workforce receiving Ford powertrains for the 2026 F1 season and past, whereas the power drinks big additionally sponsors the Blue Oval’s Dakar and World Rally Championship groups, amongst others.
Triple Eight workforce principal Jamie Whincup – statistically essentially the most profitable driver in Supercars historical past with seven titles and 125 race wins – stated the partnership extends past on-track efficiency, noting Ford’s renewed dedication to motorsport globally.
“Triple Eight’s success is firstly right down to our folks and a relentless, shared want to win that has set us up for this partnership,” Mr Whincup stated.
“Our return to the Blue Oval isn’t nearly successful; it’s about that feeling of shared goal and willpower that’s backed up by an thrilling highway automotive portfolio.
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Jamie Whincup received two of his seven titles with Ford
“What excites me most about our future collectively is the dedication Ford is demonstrating to our sport, to Triple Eight and to all Supercars followers by way of this long-term partnership. This can be a big strategic dedication that we’re very proud to share.
“We’re very excited to be part of the Ford Efficiency ecosystem and the potential alternatives this partnership will current.”
Whereas the announcement means Ford now replaces no less than the departing WAU from its Supercars secure, it leaves the way forward for Basic Motors in Supercars within the air.
The Chevrolet Camaro hasn’t been offered in Australia for nearly half a decade, and it went out of manufacturing within the US final yr, with no publicly introduced plans for the long-lasting pony automotive to return.
A minimum of one different workforce – anticipated to be Workforce 18 – is because of race for Toyota from 2026, that means Chevrolet may very well be down to only 4 Supercars groups.
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