Whincup steps back from Supercars co-driving

Jamie Whincup will step back from Supercars co-driving, marking a major changing of the guard in the championship.

Confirmed Thursday, four-time Bathurst 1000 winner Whincup will be replaced by Nick Percat, who will race alongside Broc Feeney in 2026.

Triple Eight Managing Director Whincup, 42, will not contest the 2026 Enduro Cup races, marking his first absence from the Supercars grid altogether since 2001.

Whincup has long maintained that he would continue in the driving seat until a more suitable option presented itself. That time has now come, according to Whincup, in the guise of Percat.

The Supercars Hall of Famer stopped short of a formal retirement announcement, but confirmed he will not race a Red Bull Ampol car in the 2026 or 2027 enduros.

“I’m not saying Bathurst was my last race in a Supercar. At this stage I will not be driving a Red Bull Ampol Racing race car in the 2026 or 2027 enduros, and right now have no other plans but to continue to be a better Managing Director,” Whincup said.

"I'm not shutting the door on driving ever again, it’s not something to read anything into either, right now have no other plans than Managing Director of Triple Eight and I’m looking forward to putting everything into that.”

Percat emerged as a leader in the co-drive market after announcing his own full-time retirement before last month's Repco Bathurst 1000.

The Feeney/Percat pairing will race out of the same garage as the unchanged Will Brown/Scott Pye partnership, which will continue into a third season in 2026.

What is certain, is that the ‘Whincup’ name won’t be on a Red Bull Ampol Mustang come next September’s AirTouch 500 at The Bend, bringing a halt to the most decorated chapter in Supercars history.

Whincup retired from full-time racing in 2021, and assumed the role of Managing Director of Triple Eight Race Engineering and Team Principal of the Red Bull Ampol Racing Supercars squad.

According to the team, Whincup's leadership roles will now be his full focus. Under Whincup, the team has won two Bathurst 1000s, two drivers' championships and two teams' championships.

This year alone, the team has also signed Feeney and Brown through to 2029, with Triple Eight securing a major deal with Ford that includes homologation team status and an in-house engine program.

“What a journey it's been. Since starting my Triple Eight Race Engineering ownership back in 2018, I have always said I will continue to drive the car as long as the management team and I feel like I'm the best person for the job,” Whincup said.

"In 2021 it was clear that Broc Feeney was ready to debut in Supercars and needed a break to get in. This allowed me to move into the team's Managing Director role which I'm continuing to love while striving to improve and be the best I can be there.

“Now the opportunity has come up where a leading main game driver in Nick Percat has decided to pursue a co-driver role and we are thrilled he chose this team to do it with.

"I’ve absolutely loved my time with Broc and the #88 crew, there were people keen for me to continue on but I’ve made the call that Nick is our best chance for success to team up with Broc for next season.

"I truly feel the driver line up we'll have in 2026 will complement the rest of our superstar crew to give us the best chance to showcase what we do best.

“I would like to officially welcome Nick to the Triple Eight family and I'm very grateful to have both Nick and Scott showing trust in us to deliver them fast and reliable race cars.”

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship resumes at Sandown this weekend.