Triple Eight makes shock change to Ford in Supercars

Ford has shocked the Supercars pitlane by signing reigning Supercars champion crew Triple Eight Race Engineering for 2026 and past.

The squad, which received the Supercars drivers’ title with Will Brown and the groups’ title final yr, will race two Ford Mustangs after the top of the brand new season.

It’ll even be chargeable for the design and growth of the Mustang from the beginning of subsequent season – after fulfilling the identical position with the Chevrolet Camaro Gen3 automotive it at the moment races.

The information comes 15 years after the crew defected in the wrong way, from Ford to Holden, in 2010. It transitioned to Chevrolet in 2023 following the demise of the Holden model.

T8 Group Principal and co-owner Jamie Whincup, who received the 2008 and 2009 titles in Falcons, was within the USA at Ford Efficiency’s season launch and known as the information a “big strategic dedication.”

“Triple Eight’s success is initially all the way down to our individuals and a relentless, shared need to win that has set us up for this partnership,” Whincup mentioned.

“Our return to the Blue Oval is not nearly profitable; it is about that feeling of shared objective and dedication that’s backed up by an thrilling highway automotive portfolio.

“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. It is 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.”

The information implies that not less than three groups will change producers for 2026.

Walkinshaw Andretti United will change from Ford to Toyota subsequent yr, as a part of the Japanese world large’s arrival in Supercars with the Supra. Paradoxically, like T8, WAU is a former Holden works crew, earlier than it defected to Ford.

Toyota may even help a second crew operating Supras subsequent season, having revealed plans for a second two-car entry with a to-be-confirmed crew.

As part of its new preparations T8 can also be more likely to run a Ford Mustang GT3 entry on the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour, a race by which it has beforehand competed with Mercedes-Benz automobiles. There is no such thing as a T8 entry on this weekend’s race, although Brown and team-mate Broc Feeney will drive, in separate entries.

This yr’s Supercars collection begin in Sydney Motorsport Park on 21-21 February.