Triple Eight is switching sides. After 15 years with Holden, the powerhouse team is returning to Ford for the 2026 Supercars Championship. Back in the day, Triple Eight raced Ford Falcons from 2003 to 2009. They were unstoppable, bagging three Bathurst 1000 wins and back-to-back driver’s titles with Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes. Then they switched to Holden in 2010, and the rest is history. But that chapter is closing. Starting in 2026, Triple Eight will lead Ford’s charge as the official homologation team. In simple terms, they’ll be in charge of making sure the Mustang GT meets all the racing rules. Read More Rare Porsche 959 Sport with Just 3,757 Miles Heads to RM Sotheby’s Whincup’s Vision and Ford’s New Opportunity For Jamie Whincup, Triple Eight’s switch to Ford is about keeping the team’s spirit alive. “This team is incredible – none of our achievements would have been possible without the passionate people in this organization,” he said. Whincup’s loyalty is with the people, not the badge. And that’s why this move matters. “The Blue Oval is more than a logo, and this isn’t just about winning,” he added. “We recognized the same passion at Ford that we have here at Triple Eight.” There’s talk of special editions of the Mustang and Ranger for the Australian market. Ford Australia CEO Andrew Birkic is open to the possibilities. “They are first and foremost an engineering company that is a very good race team, so there’s no reason why not,” he said. With Walkinshaw Andretti United stepping away, there’s an opportunity for Triple Eight to step in. “Obviously, they’re moving onto another camp, so we do see opportunities for Triple Eight,” Birkic added. Triple Eight Takes Racing DNA to the Road Triple Eight has teamed up with Just Autos to create an aftermarket intake for the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series, one of Australia’s most popular SUVs. There’s also talk of a more powerful Mustang inspired by their racing model. Picture a street-legal version with all the muscle of its track counterpart. And with the Ranger being a favourite in Australia, a beefed-up version sounds like a perfect fit. It’s a smart strategy, tapping into Australia’s love for performance vehicles. Previous limited editions saw Walkinshaw toughen up the Ranger, Tickford boosting Mustangs and Rangers, and Dick Johnson and Rob Herrod crafting sporty Mustangs. Triple Eight is in good company. Read More Mercedes Cuts Production as EV Sales Collapse and Profits Fall Meanwhile, on the track, Triple Eight is currently fielding three Chevy Camaro ZL1 race cars, driven by defending champion Will Brown, Broc Feeney, Zach Bates, Scott Pye, Jamie Whincup, and Craig Lowndes. But Chevy’s presence in Australia is fading. The Camaro is officially discontinued as a road car, leaving the Silverado and Corvette as the only models left. That makes it harder to justify racing a car you can’t buy. Ford, on the other hand, is in a different position. The Supercars Mustang GT is based on the seventh-generation Mustang, a model that’s alive and kicking. Ford teams struggled at first with the new cars, but they’re finding their groove. With Triple Eight switching to Ford and Walkinshaw Andretti United moving to Toyota in 2026, the Supercars grid is about to look very different. Source: Ford Performance
