How GM is readying itself for post Triple Eight era
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 20 February 2025
GM and Chevrolet is not sure who will be the new homologation team, but admits a “different approach” is required without the might of Triple Eight and that process has already begun.
The most successful Supercars team has been spearheading GM brigade since 2010 and been the factory backed homologation squad since 2017, creating the ZB Commodore and Gen3 Camaro.
However, the 2025 season that is about to begin will be the last before Triple Eight returns to Ford.
As a result GM and Chevrolet find themselves in the awkward scenario of finding a new homologation team that would have no previous experience.
If there are no further manufacturer changes, the teams racing Camaros in 2026 will be Erebus Motorsport, PremiAir Racing, Matt Stone Racing, Brad Jones Racing and Team 18, who all finished outside the top five of the teams standings last year.
Triple Eight was the sole Chevrolet team in the front half of the pits last year. Image: Peter Norton
Not only that, it will arrive ahead of an important off season where the former HRT squad, Walkinshaw Andretti United, will introduce the Toyota Supra to the category and more parity testing will be required.
Chevrolet Racing’s Chris Payne stated GM will continue working with Triple Eight into 2025 until the new homologation team is identified.
Despite the incredible success enjoyed with Triple Eight, Payne knows the same process cannot be used without them.
As a result GM and Chevrolet is currently using a collective approach with its incumbents.
When asked if there was no obvious replacement, Payne agreed that was the case, which makes his task even more difficult.
“I think that is reasonably fair,” he replied.
“Triple Eight has set a benchmark in the sport that will be remembered for many decades and this requires a different approach.
“It is a very different dynamic within the teams.
Matt Stone Racing was the leading non Triple Eight Chev team in sixth last year. Image: Supplied
“I think the challenge is to harness that and bring the best of everybody to the track.
“Each of the teams have their own particular style and operation and ownership structure and resources.
“The challenge here is to pull all of that together and make them collectively competitive with the car.
“That is the best approach and it is something we need work closely with them over the next weeks and months to bring that to reality.
“We are not going to put a definitive timeline on that but be assured we will be acting with urgency.”
Payne said this process has already begun and the Chevrolet team owners are on board.
“There are technical and commercial aspects we need to work through with Supercars,” he said.
“We have discussed at length wth all the team owners individually and together and there is a lot of support and enthusiasm to make that happen.
Triple Eight has been the “General’s” homologation and factory team since 2017
“Our challenge is to execute that in the right way which might take some time to get bedded in because it won’t be easy.
“(But) it will be ready for 2026.”
Despite winning the last four championships and nine of the last 10 Bathurst 1000s, Chevrolet and General Motors have labelled themselves as the “underdogs” following Triple EIght’s shock deflection to Ford.
“We are collectively with the Chevrolet Racing teams below average losers and ironically he decision by Triple Eight positions us, you might argue, as the underdog in the sport all of a sudden,” he admitted.
“When you look at the championship results from 2024, Triple Eight won, but Ford teams were 2, 3, 4 and 5. That is the reality of it. We made up the back half of the grid so there is work to be done.
“But we are ready for the fight and so are the Chevrolet Racing teams for the future.”
Photo by Mark Horsburgh / LAT Images
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