Dane explains 'difficult' Triple Eight decision
Jessica Dane explains 'difficult' Triple Eight decision
Dane sold her stake in team to Earl Evans, Steve Blackmore
Dane commenced Stateside GM motorsport role this year
Jessica Dane has explained her decision to sell her stake in Triple Eight Race Engineering, saying she needs to “give my all” to her new role in the United States.
Triple Eight confirmed Friday that Dane has sold her 30 percent stake in Triple Eight to Earl Evans and Steve Blackmore.
It ensures that, for the first time in Triple Eight’s Australian history, there will be no ownership stake from the Dane family.
Roland Dane brought Triple Eight to Supercars in 2003, and sold his remaining shares to Jamie Whincup at the end of 2021.
Jessica, Roland’s daughter and a Triple Eight shareholder since 2015, remained a key part of the team, and was trackside at February's season-opener in Bathurst.
She recently began a role in General Motors’ motorsport program in the United States, which she says now requires her full attention.
“This has certainly been one of the most difficult decisions of my life,” she said.
“I'm incredibly proud of what Triple Eight has achieved over the years and honoured to have been able to play a small part along the way.
“However, I know it's the right decision.
“While I've lived in the US, I've hated that I can only give a fraction of my time, energy and capacity to a team that means so very much to me.
“Some of my earliest memories are at British race tracks in the mid-90s watching the Triple Eight Race Engineering Vauxhall Vectras cutting laps in the British Touring Car Championship. The team has literally been in my family since those days.
“Additionally, I need to be able to give my all to settling into life in the US and every obligation I have in Australia detracts from that, which I don't feel is fair for Triple Eight.”
However, Dane said Evans and Blackmore — respective CEOs of Shaw and Partners and Southern Cross Truck Rentals — are a great fit for Triple Eight.
“I am delighted that two such passionate people in Earl and Steve are joining Triple Eight,” she said.
“While their business experience is undoubtedly an asset for the board of directors, I felt very strongly that the team deserves people who care about the success and longevity of motorsport as a whole.
“I am very grateful to them for this opportunity to hand 30 percent of Triple Eight over to people who I know in my gut want the best for the sport, as well as every single member of the team, present and past, who has contributed to some of my very best life memories.”
Red Bull Ampol Racing drivers Will Brown and Broc Feeney are first and second in the championship, and Triple Eight first in the teams’ standings, heading to the next round in Sydney.
