'Proved everyone wrong': Triple Eight hits back at critics of Ford switch

Triple Eight Race Engineering was the dominant team in the Gen3 era, claiming 37 of Chevrolet’s 55 wins between 2023 and 2025.

So, when the team arrived in the Ford stable, there were questions over how it could get the Mustang flying.

In a single weekend, Red Bull Ampol Racing emphatically put questions to bed as Broc Feeney won two of three races and left as championship leader.

Sydney was a crucial weekend for the team, given Triple Eight Camaros were outperformed in Sydney 12 months ago by Cam Waters, who won all three races from pole position.

Come 2026, and save for a penalty on Saturday, Feeney was again class of the field, as he was for the balance of 2025 in his Camaro.

It was enough to prove to Feeney’s engineer Martin Short that Triple Eight had what it took to prove doubters wrong.

“We wanted to come and make a statement with the new car," Short said post-race on the broadcast on Sunday.

"It's just incredible... I guess it’s a little bit of redemption.

“A lot of people last year said the Ford wasn’t as good as the Chev, and I think this year we’ve gone out and proved everyone wrong. We’re super happy.

“Obviously still heartbroken from last year, but we’re moving on and trying to get it again this year.”

Such was Triple Eight’s regard for its new Ford relationship, that it welcomed Blue Oval motorsport bosses Mark Rushbrook and Brendan McGinniskin up on the podium to collect the winning team trophies.

Rushbrook said the weekend as a whole was “very promising” for Ford, that it was “great to see Broc Feeney and Triple Eight open the year with two wins as our new Homologation Team."

Feeney praised Triple Eight — which built three new cars for the season opener — for turning around a winning project.

"This weekend, first round of the season, overall a great weekend,” Feeney said.

"Qualified fourth and then went on to win that race which was fantastic. First race with Ford, or first race back with Ford. That was a huge team effort, so to get that win was unreal.

"The amount of hard work that's gone in over the past 12 months since we made that Ford announcement, but really the last three months to get us in a position to lead the championship after Round 1 with this car is fantastic.”

Triple Eight's GM replacement, Team 18, made a big statement of its own with a pole-to-victory performance by Anton De Pasquale on Saturday night.

Feeney and Penrite Racing rival Matt Payne are level on 259 points heading to Melbourne on March 5-8.