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Whincup labels “best looking car we’ve had” as special tribute to team’s dedication

GISBERGEN feeney 2023 triple 8 livery

By Thomas Miles

Jamie Whincup believes Triple Eight’s new look is its “best” after completing the team’s “greatest achievement” to make Gen3 happen.

Triple Eight Race Engineering unveiled the livery Shane van Gisbergen and Broc Feeney will use on their Chevrolet Camaros in the 2023 Supercars Championship on Sunday morning, with a redefining red and blue design.

But the paint job is just the finishing touch on a massive three-year effort by the Banyo-based team to get the new car race ready.

Triple Eight Race Engineering has been the Supercars designated homologation team for the Gen3 Camaro. In addition to building new cars for itself and PremiAir Racing, the squad with a record 11 Supercars teams championship crowns has also done much of the control component development on behalf of Supercars.

Ever since the project itself was announced in late 2020, Triple Eight Race Engineering has been busily working in the background to make it possible and in just 19 days time, 25 Gen3 cars will be roaring around the streets of Newcastle.

Despite winning a record 241 Supercars Championship races, Triple Eight Race Engineering managing director Jamie Whincup believes reaching the Gen3 finish line is the greatest source of pride.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the people at Triple Eight,” he said.

“Everyone watching at home will see two cars on track, but the hours, dedication, blood, sweat and tears that have gone into getting those cars on track and giving the drivers the opportunity to showcase that work, it’s without doubt Triple Eights biggest achievement – second to none.

“We’ve been working on this Gen3 project for three years now. As soon as Covid hit the world, Triple Eight realised this was the time to develop a new product and we need it as quick as possible.

“We started the journey then, and here we are now.

“It’s something we’re so proud of and will be a part of our legacy.”

As for the new liveries, which mark a distinct change from the norm of Red Bull backed Triple Eight cars, Whincup believes the 2023 takes the cake.

“The cars look great. I might be biased, but I think it’s the best-looking livery we’ve had,” he said.

Triple Eight completed one shakedown at Queensland Raceway on February 14, where cars #88 and #97 clocked 650km. The team has its sights set on Sydney for Wednesday’s offical test, while it will return to “the Paperclip” for more testing on February 27-28.

Despite plenty of on-track miles still to come, Whincup cannot stop thinking about the season-opening Newcastle 500 on March 10-12.

“I think if you’re not excited to see that first in Newcastle, then potentially motorsport isn’t for you,” he said.

“Every team has had a big reset, and no one knows what’s going to happen around a crazy little street track.

“Debuting new cars with less aerodynamics, bigger horsepower, and lighter weight – there’s so many unknows and that’s what sport’s all about.”

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AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport