TRIPLE EIGHT FLIPS BACK TO FORD IN SUPERCARS

The biggest backflip in the history of Supercars will take Triple Eight back for a future at Ford.

The most successful team of the Supercars era will dump General Motors, park its Chevrolet Camaro coupes, and lead the blue oval brigade from the start of the 2026 season.

The Brisbane-based engineering powerhouse will also become the official 'homologation team' at Ford, responsible for all development work for the blue oval brigade, replacing Dick Johnson Racing. It is also expected to bring its engine partner, KRE, along for the ride.

The Ford deal could also lead to other tie-ups between Triple Eight and Ford, perhaps in GT3 sports cars and road-car programs.

Triple Eight's switch from the Chevrolet Camaro to the Ford Mustang is an epic move, but no real surprise after long-term rumours that the company was trying to bring either Kia or Hyundai into Supercars. It is also a return to its Supercars' roots, as Triple Eight fielded Falcons when it first went racing in Australia.

"A new era awaits. We’re back," said Jamie Whincup, talking on a global live feed from Ford Performance Racing from the USA.

"It's massive for us. We're super-excited. To be teaming up again next year . . . it's really, really exciting. We cannot wait."

His words were echoed by Mark Rushbrook, the global director of Ford Performance Motorsport, who has been a regular visitor to the Supercars pitlane in Australia.

"We're so excited about this. They are a race team built around an engineering company. They know how to win," said Rushbrook.

Ford kept a tight lid on the Supercars' news and only went public during the pre-season briefing by Ford Motorsport from its base in the USA.

The event included a celebration of the recent GT3 win by the Mustang at the Daytona 24-Hour race, talk of the Ranger Raptor program in Dakar racing, as well as the unveiling of a battery-electric NASCAR concept car that will race at the Pikes Peak hillclimb.

"We will challenge, again, this mountain," said Roman Dumas, who will drive the latest Mach-E at Pikes Peak after demonstrating.

Rushbrook also presented an update of the upcoming Formula One program with Red Bull Racing, ahead of the massive chassis and powertrain change for season 2026 that will include 250 kiloWatts of battery power.

"Formula One, it's the ultimate challenge," he said.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner joined Ford's president, Jim Farley, to talk F1.

"We've got to win. That's where the pressure is gonna come," said Farley.

"That's why we want to do it. Because it matters."

"We feel really proud, bringing the Ford oval back into Formula One," Horner said.

The Supercars news was a short but prominent part of the announcement, with an obvious celebration of Triple Eight's previous successes with Falcons.

There was plenty of good news on the Ford front, although less about the sensational firing of Triple Eight – along with DJR – back in 2008.

While Ford and Triple Eight were celebrating, there was a short but telling response from the managing director of General Motors Australia New Zealand, Jess Bala.

"GM has had a long and highly successful partnership with Triple Eight Race Engineering," she said.

"We share the disappointment with fans about Triple Eight’s decision, and the news that they will be moving to Ford in 2026.

"Eyes forward on the 2025 Supercars season -  we look forward to extending our full support to all the Chevrolet Racing Camaro teams, for another year of on track success."