Timeline: Triple Eight Supercars team ownership

Friday’s news of a significant ownership change in Triple Eight Race Engineering marks the latest chapter in Supercars’ most successful team, with the Dane family moving on from ownership.

It was confirmed Friday that Earl Evans and Steve Blackmore, respective CEOs of Shaw and Partners and Southern Cross Truck Rentals, had purchased Jessica Dane's 30 percent stake in the championship-winning team.

It comes after Dane’s move to the United States this year, where she now works as part of General Motors' motorsport program.

Evans and Blackmore now form one of three key ownership stakes in Triple Eight, along with Tony Quinn (40 percent) and Jamie Whincup (30 percent).

Triple Eight has been the benchmark team in Supercars for nearly 20 years, with Roland Dane critical to the team’s success since purchasing Briggs Motor Sport in 2003.

Dane, Derek Warwick and Ian Harrison founded the original Triple Eight Race Engineering in 1996, with the team becoming a powerhouse in the British Touring Car Championship.

The Triple Eight name quickly made waves in Australia after Dane took over the Briggs team, with superstar Craig Lowndes joining in 2005, joined by future superstar Whincup in 2006.

Under Roland, Triple Eight won over 200 races, nine drivers’ championships, 10 teams’ championships, and eight Bathurst 1000s. During the handover phase, the team also spearheaded the GM side of the Gen3 process.

The post-Roland streamlined approach has delivered — since Whincup took over in 2022, the team has won 39 races, two straight Bathurst 1000s and the drivers’-teams' championship double in 2022.

Red Bull Ampol Racing drivers Will Brown and Broc Feeney are first and second in the championship, and Triple Eight first in the teams’ standings, heading to the next round in Sydney.

Triple Eight’s achievements reflected the Dane family's commitment, ruthlessness and passion, but from Friday, a new era will commence, with Evans and Blackmore to attend next weekend’s round in Sydney.

Triple Eight ownership history

September 2003: Triple Eight acquires the assets and entrants licence of Team Betta Electrical from Briggs Motor Sport. Roland Dane, Peter Butterly, Ian Harrison and Derek Warwick were the key figures in the deal. Dane later took majority ownership, with Harrison maintaining a minority shareholding.

November 2015: Triple Eight introduces a four-pronged ownership model, with Roland Dane selling a 30 percent shareholding in the team to Paul Dumbrell, Tim Miles and Trinette Schipkie. Jessica Dane also became a shareholder in the team in 2015.

October 2018: With an eye on a future beyond driving, Jamie Whincup purchases a 15 percent stake in Triple Eight. The seven-time Supercars champion joins Roland Dane, Jessica Dane, Tim Miles and Paul Dumbrell as equity partners in the team.

February 2021: Businessman and racer Tony Quinn purchases a 40 percent share of the team, buying Tim Miles and Paul Dumbrell. Jamie Whincup’s shares increase from 15 to 19 percent, Jessica Dane’s from 27 to 30, with Roland Dane scaling back to 11 percent. Whincup announces full-time driving retirement, with plans to take over Managing Director and Team Principal roles from Roland Dane in 2022.

December 2021: Roland Dane sells his 11 percent to Whincup, taking Whincup’s shares to 30 percent. It ends Dane’s stint as a co-owner in Triple Eight. The ownership is now three-pronged, comprised of Quinn (40 percent), Whincup (30 percent) and Jessica Dane (30 percent).

July 2024: Earl Evans and Steve Blackmore purchase Jessica Dane’s 30 percent stake in the team. Triple Eight will have a four-way ownership split led by Tony Quinn and his 40 percent stake and Jamie Whincup’s 30 percent, with the Dane 30 per cent going to Evans and Blackmore.