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Triple Eight Race Engineering

From Alfawiki
Triple Eight Race Engineering
Company typePrivate
IndustryMotorsport
Founded1996
Headquarters
Brisbane
,
Australia
Area served
Supercars Championship
ProductsRacing cars (Supercars Championship)
Number of employees
35 (at acquisition in 2003)

Triple Eight Race Engineering, known in the Supercars series as Red Bull Ampol Racing, is a prominent Australian racing outfit participating in the Supercars Championship. Originating from Brisbane, the team took over the former Briggs Motor Sport facility located in Bowen Hills during the 2003 season before moving its base to Banyo in 2009. Over its tenure, the team has amassed eleven drivers' titles, twelve teams' championships, and ten victories at the esteemed Bathurst 1000 event.

At present, Triple Eight campaigns two Chevrolet Camaro vehicles driven by Broc Feeney and Will Brown. Additionally, it extends technical assistance to PremiAir Racing, Matt Stone Racing, and Brad Jones Racing. The team's testing activities are carried out at Queensland Raceway.

History

Established in 1996 in the United Kingdom, Triple Eight Race Engineering initially managed Vauxhall's entry in the British Touring Car Championship. The company expanded into Australian motorsport by acquiring the Briggs Motor Sport outfit in September 2003. This purchase included a purpose-built workshop in Brisbane's Bowen Hills and a workforce of 35 employees. The Brisbane engineering team worked closely with their UK counterparts to design two new Ford BA Falcon cars, supported by substantial investment from Ford.

Team Betta Electrical

The team made its first appearance at the 2003 Sandown 500. Their inaugural full campaign in the V8 Supercars came during the 2004 season, which was hindered by mechanical setbacks; despite demonstrating competitive pace, drivers Paul Radisich and Max Wilson finished 19th and 28th respectively.

In the 2005 season, Triple Eight experienced marked progress with drivers Craig Lowndes and Steve Ellery, alongside engineer Campbell Little joining from Stone Brothers Racing. Lowndes' influence combined with reliable Stone Brothers engines propelled the team forward. He secured second place in the championship, narrowly missing out to Russell Ingall. Key achievements included winning the Sandown 500 alongside co-driver Yvan Muller, and finishing third at the Bathurst 1000 with teammate Adam Macrow. Lowndes also captured three additional round victories and four pole positions throughout the season.

Momentum carried into the 2006 season, where newcomer Jamie Whincup, who replaced Ellery, immediately delivered by winning the opening event at the Clipsal 500. Lowndes claimed four round wins that year, including sharing triumph at the prestigious Bathurst 1000 with Whincup.

Lowndes led the championship standings until Round 11 but lost ground after receiving penalties for dangerous driving at the Gold Coast race and suffering a significant crash at Symmons Plains Raceway. This allowed rival competitor Rick Kelly to establish a 73-point advantage. Lowndes mounted a comeback during Bahrain, setting up a tense championship conclusion at Phillip Island where both drivers entered tied on points.

During the final race at Phillip Island, Kelly collided with Lowndes on lap two, causing Lowndes to spin out and sustain heavy damage to his car. Although Kelly was handed a drive-through penalty, he went on to win the championship while Lowndes finished 29th. Triple Eight lodged a protest alleging intentional contact by Kelly; however, stewards rejected this appeal, deeming Kelly’s penalty adequate. The team also voiced concerns over unsporting behavior from members of both the HSV Dealer Team and Holden Racing Team. Despite these controversies, Lowndes was honored with the prestigious Barry Sheene Medal, acknowledging his outstanding performance throughout that season.

Team Vodafone

In the 2007 season, Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes remained with the team, while Vodafone took over from Betta Electrical as the primary sponsor. Whincup finished just two points shy of winning the Drivers Championship, as Garth Tander and the Toll HSV Racing Team triumphed in the final event at Phillip Island.

The following year, 2008, saw Whincup claim the championship title, with both Lowndes and Whincup securing their third victory at the Bathurst 1000. Despite Triple Eight being the leading Ford team and creators of the FG Falcon, Ford announced it would limit its support to only two teams—Ford Performance Racing and Stone Brothers Racing—from 2009 onward. This decision resulted in an estimated annual loss of $2 million for Triple Eight.

With Ford withdrawing backing in 2009, Triple Eight replaced Ford branding with a pink pig’s head emblem, symbolizing sponsor Hog's Breath Cafe. Running the new FG Falcons, the team dominated by winning fifteen out of twenty-three races; Whincup secured eleven victories and the championship, while Lowndes achieved four wins and finished fourth overall. The absence of factory support prompted Triple Eight to announce a transition to Holden vehicles starting in 2010.

Transition to Holden

In 2010, Triple Eight commenced competition with Holden VE Commodores under a three-year partnership with Holden, retaining Vodafone as their primary sponsor through 2012.

The season opened strongly with Whincup and Lowndes finishing first and second respectively. Whincup dominated by winning races in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, and Hamilton but lost his championship lead following difficulties at Queensland Raceway and Winton. Lowndes maintained consistent podium finishes throughout. The team also achieved a one-two finish at Bathurst with pairings Lowndes/Mark Skaife and Whincup/Steve Owen. Ultimately, Whincup concluded the season as runner-up in the championship standings, with Lowndes placing fourth.

In the 2011 season, Whincup regained the championship from Lowndes as Triple Eight secured the Teams Championship title.

During an outstanding campaign in the 2012 season, Triple Eight won nineteen races including victories at the Sandown 500 (Lowndes/Warren Luff) and the Bathurst 1000 (Whincup/Paul Dumbrell), with Whincup clinching the championship ahead of Lowndes.


Red Bull Racing Australia

In August 2012, Red Bull acquired naming rights for the upcoming 2013 V8 Supercars season, succeeding Vodafone. The team debuted the new Holden VF Commodore built to Car of the Future specifications in 2013, where drivers Whincup and Lowndes finished first and second in the championship respectively.

By 2016, Triple Eight expanded its operations to include three cars after obtaining a Racing Entitlement Contract formerly owned by James Rosenberg Racing. Shane van Gisbergen joined as the third driver and went on to win that year’s championship.

Team Vortex

During 2016 and 2017, Craig Lowndes competed under Team Vortex branding, while Whincup and van Gisbergen continued racing for Red Bull Racing Australia.

Autobarn Lowndes Racing

In 2018, Lowndes competed under the Autobarn Lowndes Racing name, while Whincup and van Gisbergen remained drivers for the Red Bull Holden Racing Team.

Red Bull Holden Racing Team

Between 2017 and 2020, Triple Eight functioned as Holden’s official factory outfit, operating under the Red Bull Holden Racing Team brand. They introduced the ZB Commodore in 2018 and spearheaded the development of a proposed V6 twin-turbo engine intended to replace the traditional V8. Nevertheless, in April 2018, Holden discontinued the turbocharged V6 project and decided to continue with the V8 engine, also cancelling planned wildcard entries.

Red Bull Ampol Racing

Starting in 2021, Triple Eight adopted the Red Bull Ampol Racing identity following the retirement of the Holden brand in 2020. This shift marked only the second occasion in Triple Eight’s V8 Supercars history—after 2009—that it competed without factory backing, and the first time since 2010 without Holden’s direct support. Ampol, previously known as Caltex Australia, took over as a key sponsor alongside longtime partner Red Bull.

Despite this rebranding, Triple Eight continued running Holden Commodores throughout 2021 and 2022. The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was introduced in 2023 under the new Gen3 regulations. Following Jamie Whincup’s retirement after the 2021 season—concluding a 16-year full-time career with Triple Eight—Broc Feeney joined the team alongside Shane van Gisbergen.

With General Motors ceasing production of Holden vehicles, all former Holden-affiliated teams, including Triple Eight, transitioned to Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s for the Gen3 campaign in 2023.

In 2024, Shane van Gisbergen declared his exit from V8 Supercars to pursue NASCAR opportunities with Trackhouse Racing. Will Brown was signed as his successor, taking over car number 87 and partnering with Broc Feeney.

Looking ahead, Triple Eight has announced plans to switch to Ford machinery starting with the 2026 season.

Wildcard entries

Triple Eight has entered additional cars at selected events under different team names. At the 2013 Bathurst 1000, they ran an Xbox One Racing vehicle driven by Andy Priaulx and Mattias Ekström, qualifying 18th and finishing in 10th place.

During the 2021 Bathurst 1000, a Super3 Champion Broc Feeney and former Supercars champion Russell Ingall co-drove a Supercheap Auto-sponsored Holden ZB Commodore.

For the 2022 Bathurst 1000, competing as Supercheap Auto Racing, a Holden ZB Commodore was piloted by triple Supercars champion and seven-time Bathurst winner Craig Lowndes alongside current driver Declan Fraser.

In the 2023 Supercars Championship, a single Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was entered for Zane Goddard at the Darwin Triple Crown and for Lowndes at Sandown and Bathurst.

For the 2024 season, a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was fielded for Cooper Murray at Darwin, with Lowndes returning as co-driver at Sandown and Bathurst.

Development series

Triple Eight has participated in the Development Series by entering vehicles for drivers such as Andrew Thompson in 2011, Scott Pye during 2012, and Casey Stoner in 2013, securing the championship title in 2011. Starting from 2014, Triple Eight extended technical assistance to Eggleston Motorsport. The team made a comeback to the Super2 Series in 2019 with two entries piloted by Brenton Grove and Kurt Kostecki. Operations were reduced in 2020 to a single car driven by 2019 Australian Formula Ford Champion Angelo Mouzouris. In 2021, the team expanded back to two cars, with Mouzouris accompanied by former Tickford Super2 competitor Broc Feeney.

Car supplier

In addition to its own racing programs, Triple Eight has provided chassis to various teams over the years: Dick Johnson Racing (2009–2012), Paul Morris Motorsport (2010–2012), Tekno Autosports (2010–2021), Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport (2012–2017), Team 18 (2016–2022, 2024), Matt Stone Racing (2018–2022), and PremiAir Racing (2022 to present).

Ownership

Initially connected with the British Touring Car Championship outfit Triple Eight Racing, ownership of the team comprised Peter Butterly, Roland Dane, Ian Harrison, and Derek Warwick. Eventually, Dane assumed majority control while Harrison maintained a minority interest. Around late 2015, Dane divested approximately 30% of the team to investors including Paul Dumbrell, Tim Miles, and Trinette Schipkie. Subsequently, minority stakes were acquired by Dane’s daughter Jessica and driver Jamie Whincup.

In 2021, Dane relinquished his role as team principal and transitioned to non-executive chairman while selling his remaining shares to Whincup and Jessica Dane. Scottish millionaire Tony Quinn from New Zealand purchased a 40% shareholding.

By July 2024, Jessica Dane sold her equity to sponsors Earl Evans and Steven Blackmore before relocating to the United States for a position within General Motors’ motorsport division. In December of the same year, she stepped down as non-executive chairman and was replaced by Rex Devantier, a business associate of Quinn.

Supercar drivers

The list below details drivers who have raced for the team in the Supercars Championship, ordered by their debut year. Part-time competitors are indicated in italics.

Super2 drivers

Below is a list of drivers who have participated in the Super2 Series for the team, organized by their first appearance. Drivers with part-time roles are shown in italics:


GT3/GT4 drivers

Prominent drivers in GT3 and GT4 categories include:


Complete Bathurst 1000 results

... [Table continues with similar structure, highlighting key finishes such as wins and podiums] ...
Year No. Car Drivers Pos. Laps
2003 65 Ford Falcon (BA) Paul Radisich
Rickard Rydell 		7th 161
66 Ford Falcon (BA) Dean Canto
Matthew White 		Ret 147
2004 88 Ford Falcon (BA) Paul Radisich
Max Wilson 		Ret 116
888 Ford Falcon (BA) Dean Canto
Yvan Muller 		Ret 138
2005 88 Ford Falcon (BA) Steve Ellery
Adam Macrow 		'\'3rd\ '\'161\
2023 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1-1LE Broc Feeney
Jamie Whincup 		23rd 142
97 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1-1LE Shane van Gisbergen
Richie Stanaway 		1st 161
888 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1-1LE Craig Lowndes
Zane Goddard 		24th 141
2024 87 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1-1LE Will Brown
Scott Pye 		3rd 161
88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1-1LE Broc Feeney
Jamie Whincup 		2nd 161
888 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1-1LE Craig Lowndes
Cooper Murray 		14th 161


External links

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