In one of the biggest shocks in recent history, Repco Supercars Championship winning squad Triple Eight Race Engineering will switch to Ford Mustangs for the 2026 season.
Chevrolet’s leading team will make a return to Ford after it defected at the end of the 2009 season due to the reduction of Blue Oval support.
The team entered Supercars in 2004 as a Ford team having bought Briggs Motorsport as part of an expansion from its British Touring Car Championship roots where it was the Vauxhall factory squad.
Winning three Bathurst 1000s and two Supercars Championships with Jamie Whincup, Ford funding was cut to the team in 2008 leading to a defection to Holden in 2010.
Triple Eight has since led the way for General Motors in the Repco Supercars Championship as it added seven Bathurst 1000s and nine touring car titles, including last year’s for Will Brown.
Team Principal Jamie Whincup won two of his record seven Supercars titles during Triple Eight’s Ford era and is glad to be back in the fold.
“Triple Eight’s success is first and foremost down to our people and a relentless, shared desire to win that has set us up for this partnership,” he said.
“Our return to the Blue Oval isn’t just about winning; it’s about that feeling of shared purpose and determination that’s backed up by an exciting road car portfolio.
“What excites me most about our future together is the commitment Ford is demonstrating to our sport, to Triple Eight and to all Supercars fans through this long-term partnership. This is a huge strategic commitment that we are very proud to share.
“We’re very excited to be a part of the Ford Performance ecosystem and the potential opportunities this partnership will present.”
Global Director of Ford Performance, Mark Rushbrook detailed what bought the two organisations together.
“We’ve always admired Triple Eight’s unwavering commitment to excellence,” said Rushbrook. “Their engineering prowess and tireless pursuit of victory are almost incomparable. But more than that, there’s a shared history, a bond forged in the fires of competition, that makes this partnership feel so right.
“This is about looking forward, about building a future together, and conquering new challenges.”
Supercars is entering an exciting era, with Triple Eight’s defection to Ford following Toyota’s entry into the series next year alongside Walkinshaw Andretti United.
Toyota has already confirmed at least four of its Supras will be on the grid, while Triple Eight Race Engineering bolsters a solid roster of teams for Ford.
Andrew Birkic, President and CEO of Ford Australia highlighted the importance of the brand’s strong presence in Supercars.
“This partnership is about delivering an unforgettable experience for our fans, and is a statement of our commitment to Australian motorsport,” Birkic stated.
“This is also a demonstration of Ford’s motorsport ambition, which is stronger than ever.”
The Red Bull Ampol Racing moniker will continue into Triple Eight’s new Ford era.
The team will start its final season representing General Motors at Sydney Motorsport Park on February 21-23.