Triple Eight, Walkinshaw confirm first 2026 Supercar laps

Triple Eight Race Engineering and Walkinshaw TWG Racing will hit the track next week amid major changes for the powerhouse teams.

Triple Eight will shift from Chevrolet to Ford this season, after 16 seasons racing General Motors machinery.

Walkinshaw, meanwhile, moves from Ford into the new Toyota GR Supra, which will make its competitive debut in Sydney on February 20-22.

Before the field turns a lap in anger, Triple Eight and Walkinshaw will join Dick Johnson Racing in rolling out new cars before Round 1.

DJR will hit Queensland Raceway on Tuesday for a shakedown of Brodie Kostecki’s new Ford. The team returns next week, also on February 9, for a rookie date with Rylan Gray. The Shell team will also be on track on February 9, running a rookie test with Rylan Gray.

Triple Eight confirmed to Supercars.com it will conduct shakedown days on Monday February 9 and Tuesday February 10 at Queensland Raceway.

Ford's new homologation team will go straight from its 2026 season launch event on Saturday 7 February in Geelong to Ipswich, where both new Red Bull Ampol Racing Mustangs will turn their first laps.

It also marks the first laps for the team with a Triple Eight Powertrains engine, with the Queensland squad taking over the Ford engine program from 2026.

SCT Motorsport driver Jackson Walls, who will drive a Triple Eight-built Ford this year, will also get a rookie day on Tuesday February 10.

Gates will be open at the Ipswich venue. Check the Queensland Raceway website for details.

Walkinshaw TWG Racing, meanwhile, confirmed to Supercars.com it will also open 2026 at Queensland Raceway, with a Toyota turning laps as part of category engine testing.

WR 032, which will be raced by Chaz Mostert this season, is down for the testing, which will also feature a Team 18 Camaro. WR 032 was air-freighted back from its wind tunnel journey to the United States late last year.

Further parity testing with the Mustang, Camaro and Supra is also set to take place during the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour weekend on February 13-15.

Walkinshaw's fellow Toyota-bound team Brad Jones Racing has yet to confirm new car shakedown dates.