'Don't just forget how to drive': Skaife's Triple Eight verdict

Mark Skaife has backed Broc Feeney and Triple Eight to return serve in the 2026 championship, but insists the Ford team needs to get on top of the Mustang be a "title contender."

The championship-winning powerhouse is in the middle of a 20-year low, having failed to reach the podium in the last six races across Darwin and Townsville.

Penrite Racing seized the teams’ championship lead in Darwin, before Matt Payne executed a 107-point swing to turn a 15-point deficit into a 92-point lead over Feeney.

Will Brown’s race pace was a standout in Townsville, the 2024 champion passing 29 cars in three races. However, that was also a product of terrible qualifying performance, starting 19th twice and 12th. Feeney, meanwhile, has seen his trademark qualifying form fall away, missing top 10 twice in Townsville.

Five-time Supercars champion — and 2010 Bathurst winner with Triple Eight — Skaife believes the form is only temporary, but has implored the team to turn the tide.

"[Feeney] will challenge, but I think they do genuinely have to improve the car for them to be the title contender," Skaife told News Corp.

"I can’t see them sitting on their hands. So I’m looking at their history and their engineering capabilities and their way of tuning cars over a long journey; and clearly the two drivers don’t just forget how to drive overnight.”

On pace, Feeney has fallen behind Ford trio Payne, Brodie Kostecki and Cam Waters. Skaife admitted the team’s raw speed is "not good enough to win right now,” and insisted it also has to drastically improve its street circuit form ahead of the Finals.

Triple Eight legend Craig Lowndes penned a series of key observations on his former team’s plight on Supercars.com, but repeatedly claimed the brains trust would be working overtime to find answers.

Skaife is also confident the tides will turn, saying: "I think as the longer races come on and the race pace is going to be there, I think that will serve them well.

"They have been the benchmark race team for a long time… and, yes, it is uncharacteristic for them to not be at least vying for the podium given their record and given their achievements.

"But if you were going to be glass half-full you would be raving about how they have gone halfway through a new season with brand new cars and having to be the homologation team and the engine supplier.”

The 2026 Supercars season resumes in Perth on July 31-August 2.