That’s the view of team manager Mark Dutton, who’s seen plenty of change throughout his time with the powerhouse squad.
Dutton was an engineer at Briggs Motorsport when it was bought out by Triple Eight midway through 2003 and has been an integral part of its decades of success.
That has included numerous regulation and model changes, a move from Ford to Holden, then to Chevrolet under Gen3, and now back to Ford.
While changing manufacturers is technically simpler than ever with the control Gen3 platform, Dutton said T8’s overall workload has proven enormous.
“I think people can underestimate what we’ve taken on this year,” Dutton told Speedcafe following the Townsville 500.
“We’ve got a third car. We’ve got the engine shop. We’ve got a manufacturer change. We’ve got a HT (homologation team) change.
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“You’ve got all these things that we didn’t put on another 15 or 20 people to do. So we’re pushing hard.”
Triple Eight is now in a major fight against Grove Racing, Dick Johnson Racing and Tickford Racing to lead the Ford contingent on track.
Grove, which last year gave T8 a laundry list of items it wanted improved on the Mustang, has seized the opportunity and taken over its position at the top of pit lane.
“Good on our opposition because they’ve gone, ‘whoa, those people are busy’… and they’ve picked the perfect time to step up,” Dutton continued.
“I’m not making excuses at all, because we won’t rest until we’re back on the top step. But the reality of the workload is that it does make it tough.
“If you talk about other transitions, this has been a bigger one in that regard. We’ve just got so much going on.”
While it’s currently on its longest stretch without a podium in 20 years, Triple Eight’s form has of course dipped during that span, including amid periods of major workload.
Its Ford-to-Holden switch of 2010 is best remembered for stunning 1-2 finishes on debut in Abu Dhabi and at that year’s Bathurst 1000.
However, an inconsistent campaign meant it lost the drivers’ championship to James Courtney and DJR, then campaigning T8-built Falcons.
Likewise when it switched to Chevrolet in 2023 and a Gen3 platform it had developed for the category, T8 was beaten out of the blocks by Erebus Motorsport.
But make no mistake, taking on the control Ford engine supply this year as part of the HT coup is high among the reasons why this change is its biggest ever.
It’s not entirely by design, either, with Triple Eight’s initial plan to have long-time engine partner KRE switch with them having hit a road block shortly after the Blue Oval deal was done.
That forced Triple Eight to establish an in-house engine shop to build and service the engines, as well as commence a quest for improvements.
“Everything’s ongoing,” admitted Dutton of engines. “We need to keep working on reliability for the Mustangs. And you do that for everyone, obviously.”
The HT and engine programs were both awarded to Triple Eight in what could have been seen as a major blow to previous custodians DJR.
DJR boss Ryan Story, however, insisted his team would benefit from the change as those responsibilities were drawing vital resources away from its race team.
While the reversal of fortunes for the two squads in 2026 appears to be proving that right, Story is reluctant to perform a victory lap.
“I think there might be some similarities (to what DJR experienced) there to an extent, but fundamentally they are still learning that package,” Story said on PG & The Doc.
Triple Eight utilised the luxury afforded by the Finals Series format to go exploring in Townsville, taking “big swings” on setup to learn more about what the Mustang likes.
Story voices what most are currently thinking; a team with such a pedigree of success like Triple Eight should not be underestimated.
“They are a phenomenal organisation,” he said.
“Just check the scoreboard, they’re almost without peer in terms of what they’ve achieved in the course of their 20 to 25 years in existence.
“But they’re still learning the package, we’ve got the advantage of multiple years of understanding what it takes to go racing in the Shell V-Power Ford Mustang.
“It’s the same with Groves. They’ve had a phenomenal year so far, leading both the teams’ and drivers’ championships.
“I think all you can really pinpoint the differences and struggles that Triple Eight has been having in recent times is down to the knowledge bank we have and how to get the most out of this car and the package.”
Triple Eight’s latest manufacturer transition has come without its founder and long-time leader Roland Dane, now at PremiAir Racing, and technical director Jeromy Moore, now with GM in the US.
Inside the ‘perfect storm’ behind Triple Eight’s 20-year low
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