Triple Eight Race Engineering will lead to General Motors to Ford box office for the 2026 supercar season.
Ford says that “it is planned” that Triple Eight will take the responsibilities of homologation of Dick Johnson in difficulty next season.
The measure is with triple Eight and Ford for the first time since its agria separation at the end of 2009.
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The defection is a major blow to the Blue Oval, which just a season ago threatened to leave supercars if its considerations about parity under the new Gen3 regulations for 2023 were taken seriously, forcing the game into an extensive testing program to close the hole of functionality between the models.
Walkinshaw Andretti United later announced that she would be Toyota’s first homologation team in 2026, only 3 years after joining the Ford stable.
Ford groups have been languii in championship qualifying in the two seasons beyond, and Chaz Mostert’s brief foray into the top two in the 2024 name qualifies closer than all the blue team drivers have reached the drivers’ crown.
The recapture of the General Motors Triple Eight eight team, the maximum success team in the history of supercar, completes a dramatic investment of fortune in a main spice to Ford’s position in sport.
“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,” Triple Eight boss Jamie Whincup 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 maximum of our long career in combination is Ford’s commitment is appearing in our sport, with triple eight and all the supercar enthusiasts through this long -term association. This is a massive strategic commitment that we are very proud to share.
“We are extremely excited to be a component of Ford’s performance ecosystem and the opportunities this component will present. “
The reunion occurs after Ford and Triple Eight faded spectacularly after five years of courtship in 2008, which caused the emerging team to lose the sponsorship of the American manufacturer.
The decision due to the past, made in July of that year, forced T8 to run Ford Falcons in 2009, however, the team got rid of the iconic blue oval on the front of the cars in a broadcast of public complaint.
It wasn’t until 2010 that the Banyo squad completed its move to the Holden camp, immediately winning the first of what would be seven consecutive teams titles in a glittering run that also featured five drivers championship.
In 2017, Holden gave an official factory to the triple eight at the expense of the existing Walkinshaw Andretti United, which has since had since then, providing another 3 team titles and 4 pilot championships.
But rather than sour the prospect of a renewed relationship, Ford global director of performance Mark Rushbrook said the partnership’s controversial past made reunion only sweeter.
“There is a shared story, a link in the festival’s fires, which makes this association feel so well,” he said.
“It’s a consultation of impatience, building a long career in combination and conquering new challenges.
“We have admired the unwavering commitment of Triple Eight with excellence. His engineering skill and the tireless search for victory is almost a moment to none.
The imminent drople Eight desertion will leave General Motors any historical team in its stable, with team champion 2023, Erebus Motorsport, the largest remaining team in 2026.
“GM had a long and very successful association with triple Eight Race Engineering,” said a GM statement.
“We share the disappointment with fans about their announcement, and the news that they will be moving to Ford in 2026.”
Erebus was the best-placed Chevrolet in last year’s championship, albeit finishing a distant sixth behind the table-topping Triple Eight.
The Victorian team will be the first favourite to resume homologation for the Camaro.
The replacement of Ford’s planned to T8 will be a main blow for Dick Johnson Racing, which has fought badly as an approval team of the era of GEN3.
DJR, who won the pilot and team titles last time in 2020, fell from the moment last year of regulations in 2022 at a modest point in 2023 and 2024.
He has stopped on the podium only six times in the two seasons beyond, adding only one victory, and last season he beat the other Ford, Tickford, Walkinshaw, Andretti, United and Grove teams.
The storied Supercars team will run Erebus-supplied chassis this season in its bid to return to competitiveness, with 2023 champion Brodie Kostecki joining incumbent Will Davison behind the wheel.
According to existing agreements, the Triple Eight transfer will make Ford retain its presence of 10 cars on the network by 2026, while General Motors will see its solid reduced to 12 cars.
Or the count can change, however, Toyota intended to align 4 cars in its first season in 2026, only Wau’s approval team is recently connected to the Japanese brand.