'No small feat': Whincup opens up on mammoth Triple Eight Ford task
Jamie Whincup reacts to mammoth Triple Eight Ford task
Four new Mustangs built, an engine shop and program completed, and more
New cars to be shaken down at Queensland Raceway in coming days
You could’ve forgiven Jamie Whincup for shedding a quiet tear as his new Ford Mustang Supercar tore around the Geelong Foreshore on Saturday.
In front of a packed Foreshow, Red Bull Ampol Racing launched its 2026 season and, with it, revealed its first race liveried Ford Mustang Supercar.
It was the culmination of an off-season of blood, sweat and tears for the team, which has jumped to Ford after 16 seasons leading General Motors’ charge.
For 12 of those seasons, Whincup was behind the wheel, winning titles in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2017 in Holden Commodores.
The history books, though, will also show Whincup as 2008 and 2009 champion in Ford Falcons, with the team also nailing a hat-trick of Bathurst victories between 2006 and 2008.
Back then, he was star driver. Now, he is in the hot seat, and charged with turning Triple Eight into Ford’s powerhouse team, coupled with homologation and engine supplier duties.
“Finally seeing these cars in the flesh and ready to go racing is big for us, for everyone here at Triple Eight,” said Whincup, Managing Director and Team Principal of the team.
"The work that’s gone into these two cars over the off season has been and continues to be huge, it’s an incredible effort from everyone here.
“In the off season the team have finished an engine shop and set up an engine program that’s ready to go for the season, they’ve done aero testing, built cars and gotten them ready to race.
"That’s no small feat and I’m really proud of everyone that’s been involved to get us to this point.”
While trying to close out a championship double in 2025 with its Camaros, Triple Eight put energy into building a new Mustang, shipping it to the United States for aerodynamic testing, and then building three more for the 2026 Supercars season.
The energy spent is proof Triple Eight is willing to go the extra mile to get its latest Ford chapter off to a bright start, and start it how the last one ended — on top.
"When I started at Triple Eight Race Engineering, we were representing the Ford brand,” Whincup said.
“We had a fantastic run. 2006, 2007, 2008, the three-peat at Bathurst is probably a highlight.
“My first couple of championships came with the Ford brand. So, it's exciting to be back with a brand that’s been in this country for a long time, but in particular gathered so much momentum in the last couple of years.”
The new Triple Eight Fords will be shaken down in coming days before Round 1 in Sydney on February 20-22.
