In what some fans will see as the ultimate act of betrayal in the now dead Red vs Blue Supercars battle following confirmation Toyota is coming next year, Ford Performance has today announced a landmark partnership with Triple Eight Race Engineering.
Effective from the beginning of the 2026 Supercars Championship season, Triple Eight, or Red Bull Ampol Racing as they’re better known will once again race under the blue oval banner, rekindling a relationship that ended in 2009.
The decision to reunite, and become Ford’s homologation team, was a carefully considered convergence of timing, ambition, and a shared belief in the potential of combining Supercars powerhouse team Triple Eight with the Ford Mustang.
“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 Race Engineering team principal 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,” he added.
“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.”
That sentiment is mirrored at Ford.
“We’ve always admired Triple Eight’s unwavering commitment to excellence. Their engineering prowess and tireless pursuit of victory are almost incomparable,” Ford Performance’s global director Mark Rushbrook said.
“But more than that, there’s a shared history, a bond forged in the fires of competition, that makes this partnership feel so right.” He also emphasised the importance of building on Triple Eight’s success as the key to developing the future together.
The partnership underscores Ford’s strategy for the Gen3 era, and offers a nod to its first run between 2003 and 2009, with three Bathurst 1000 victories for Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup, and back-to-back Drivers’ championships for Whincup.
The announcement is the car maker’s second for the day, with news earlier this morning that Dick Johnson has been recognised with the 2025 Spirit of Ford award – the brand’s highest and most prestigious racing honour.
