DANE: “I WILL BE AROUND WHEN JAMIE NEEDS ME”

Roland Dane: “I will be around when Jamie needs me” – Image: LAT

Current Triple Eight Race Engineering team principal and managing director Roland Dane has revealed he will have a greatly reduced role next season when he vacates the posts at the end of this season.

By DAN McCARTHY

Dane revealed his role is to be on hand to provide guidance to Jamie Whincup, but only when he requires it.

“In 2022, my role will be to be around when Jamie needs me,” Dane said.

“To really have a modus operandi with him that allows him to do his job but also lean on me on a very regular basis when he needs me.

“That won’t involve being in the way, it’ll involve being there when you are needed, a bit like being a motor racing father if you like. You can very quickly be a nuisance, so I’ll be there when he wants me and not when he doesn’t.”

“I won’t be attending all the race meetings, I didn’t last year, and the team ran pretty well when I wasn’t there, so that is a testament to the people who are here and probably an indication that I need to keep out of the way.”

Transitioning from driving to a managerial role in 2021, Whincup expects to listen and observe as he intends to increase his time spent at Triple Eight’s Banyo workshop.

“My main focus this year is to make sure I drive the #88 car as well as I can, that is the best thing I can do for Triple Eight in 2021,” he said.

“But in my spare time I’ll still be on the Supercars commission and I will be doing as much as I possibly can to learn the Triple Eight business.

“I think it’ll take a bit of a Ross Brawn approach for 12 months, I have got to listen and observe more than anything, so I will be making sure I spend as much as I possibly can here at the workshop.

“As I say listening, observing and learning, and when the time comes for me to make the decisions, I’ve got as much knowledge as possible to make the right ones.”

Jessica Dane, the daughter of Roland has also stepped up her involvement within the team, increasing her stake from 27% to 30%.

She highlighted her role in 2022 is as yet undefined currently, but she will assist Whincup in the areas he requires.

“That is something for Jamie and me to work out, exactly what that looks like,” she said.

“We do have a broad plan of what that role looks like, essentially I’m here to help Jamie do the very best job he can as managing director and team principal. Whatever he needs me to do to best support him, and get the best results out of the team that is absolutely what I will be doing.

“Hopefully in a year’s time I will have a law degree under my belt as well, so I will also be keeping Triple Eight out of any legal issues as well. Hopefully we don’t need to do that but I’m here in case we do.”

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