Triple Eight Race Engineering will return to the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour in 2027, partnering with Ford Racing to field a Ford Mustang GT3 Evo for Supercars drivers Broc Feeney and Will Brown. The Australian organisation will make its first appearance at the endurance classic since 2024, with a third driver set to complete its line-up ahead of the event at Mount Panorama.
The announcement marks another significant development in Triple Eight’s relationship with Ford following its switch to the manufacturer for the 2026 Supercars Championship. It also represents the team’s return to international GT3 competition a decade after securing outright victory at Bathurst in 2017 with Jamie Whincup, Craig Lowndes and Toni Vilander.
Feeney and Brown will share a Mustang GT3 for the first time, bringing their established working relationship at Red Bull Ampol Racing into the endurance racing environment. Both have previously competed in the Bathurst 12 Hour, although their 2027 appearance will provide an opportunity to challenge leading international GT3 teams with the support of their regular Supercars organisation.
Triple Eight returns to Bathurst a decade after 2017 victory
Triple Eight has enjoyed considerable success at Mount Panorama across both Supercars and GT competition, with its 2017 Bathurst 12 Hour victory remaining one of the organisation’s most significant international endurance racing achievements.
Whincup, Lowndes and Vilander secured the overall victory aboard a Ferrari 488 GT3, establishing the team among the leading competitors at an event that continues to attract international manufacturers and experienced GT3 specialists.
Triple Eight subsequently returned with Mercedes-AMG machinery, most recently fielding two cars during the 2024 edition. However, the team has not contested the event since then, making its 2027 entry an important return to the international endurance racing calendar.
The organisation will now pursue another outright victory with Ford, combining its extensive experience of competing at Bathurst with the manufacturer’s international GT3 programme.
The official confirmation of Triple Eight’s return also establishes the team as the third announced entrant for 2027, following earlier commitments from Scott Taylor Motorsport and Tsunami RT.
Ford Mustang GT3 Evo set for second Bathurst appearance
Triple Eight’s return will also mark another important chapter for Ford’s international GT3 programme, with the team preparing to campaign the upgraded Mustang GT3 Evo at Mount Panorama.
The original Mustang GT3 made its Bathurst 12 Hour debut in 2026 through Haupt Racing Team (HRT), with Feeney joining Ford factory drivers Christopher Mies and Dennis Olsen. The combination demonstrated promising performance during practice and qualifying, raising expectations ahead of the race.
However, the team’s challenge ended almost immediately when Mies struck a kangaroo at approximately 250km/h on Conrod Straight. The impact caused extensive damage to the car and forced its retirement after only a handful of laps, preventing Feeney from completing a racing stint.
For 2027, Triple Eight will campaign the revised Mustang GT3 Evo, which made its competitive debut at the 2026 24 Hours of Daytona. The updated specification features developments to the car’s aerodynamic, braking and suspension systems, providing an improved package as Ford continues expanding its international GT3 programme.
The partnership also strengthens Ford’s connection with Triple Eight, which began competing with Mustang Supercars machinery in 2026.
Feeney welcomes opportunity to compete against international GT3 stars
Feeney returns to the Bathurst 12 Hour with considerable experience in both Australian and international GT competition. The 2025 GT World Challenge Australia Pro-Am champion has regularly challenged for victories in GT3 machinery, having established himself as one of the country’s leading young endurance racing competitors.
His 2025 championship success alongside Brad Schumacher added to his achievements in Supercars, while the pairing has continued competing at the front of the Australian GT3 field throughout 2026.
Feeney believes the Bathurst 12 Hour offers a different challenge from his regular racing commitments, particularly because of the standard of international competition.
“I actually really enjoy doing it as a Triple Eight team, we’ve done it before, it’s a challenge for all of us and we tackle challenges every season in the main game already. Personally, for me, I love going up against the best GT drivers in the world and the race is attracting more and more of them – when you talk to them and other drivers they all want to come out and do it. From a team point of view too, we’re going up against some of the best squads who race around the world. It’s a cool challenge and experience but you can also learn a lot from the way they go about it.”
Feeney eager to reunite with Brown in upgraded Mustang
Although Feeney has previous experience with the Mustang GT3, the 2027 event will represent his first opportunity to race the upgraded Evo specification at Bathurst.
His familiarity with the car’s previous configuration should provide a foundation as Triple Eight prepares for its return, while his established relationship with Brown could prove valuable throughout the demanding 12-hour race.
The pair have worked closely together during their Supercars careers, although they usually compete in separate cars with individual crews. Sharing the same machinery will therefore introduce a different dynamic as they combine their experience in pursuit of an outright victory.
“Pumped to be back in the car with Will, that car is a beast, it’s an upgrade from what I drove this year. It’s going to be exciting to drive with him, and it’s going to be exciting to announce who that third driver will be.”
Feeney also welcomed the involvement of Ford Racing, emphasising the importance of manufacturer support for Triple Eight’s return to GT3 competition.
“But to have Ford (Racing) on board with their full support behind T8 for the 12 Hour is great.”
His enthusiasm also reflects the opportunity to compete alongside familiar personnel in an event that differs considerably from the regular Supercars schedule.
“It’s just such a fun event, pumped to be a part of it again and even more pumped to be doing it with a codriver and crew who we know each other so well already.”
Brown excited to tackle Bathurst in Ford Mustang GT3
Brown will return to the Bathurst 12 Hour with considerable experience of the event, having made his debut in 2017 and subsequently competed across several GT categories.
The Australian has achieved multiple Invitational class victories and narrowly missed the outright podium during the 2026 edition. His previous appearances have provided valuable experience of managing the demanding race distance, traffic and changing conditions at Mount Panorama.
However, the opportunity to compete alongside Feeney in a factory-supported Ford represents a new challenge, particularly after spending much of their Supercars careers racing against each other as teammates.
Brown expressed his enthusiasm for the programme, highlighting both his affection for Bathurst and the opportunity to strengthen Triple Eight’s involvement in endurance racing.
“How exciting is this, we love racing at Bathurst, love racing the 12 Hour each year, now to do it with Triple Eight and in a (Ford) Mustang that’s really exciting!”
He also believes the partnership provides an opportunity to continue developing Ford’s racing programme while experiencing a different competitive environment alongside his regular teammate.
Brown highlights benefits of sharing car and crew with Feeney
Although Feeney and Brown work together throughout the Supercars season, the Bathurst 12 Hour will require them to operate as a single driving combination rather than separate competitors within the same organisation.
Brown believes that familiarity could provide an advantage as Triple Eight prepares for the demands of endurance racing. The pair already understand each other’s working methods, while the team’s experience in Supercars should assist with communication and race operations.
“Obviously Broc drove something similar to that car last year, I saw it on track and it looked good, it looked fast. Great opportunity to keep doing bigger things with Ford (Racing) and take that car out around The Mountain. Cool to be driving in the same car as Broc again as well – we work so closely together during the season yeah as a team but it’s our own cars, our own gear, our own crew. We’re all in it together for this and that’s going to be an awesome experience.”
The partnership will also reunite Brown with the organisation for its first Bathurst 12 Hour appearance since 2024. His previous experience with Triple Eight in the event has strengthened his enthusiasm for another opportunity to compete for outright honours.
Brown confident Triple Eight can challenge for strong result
Brown’s confidence in the 2027 programme reflects the combination of experienced personnel, manufacturer support and the team’s previous achievements at Mount Panorama.
Triple Eight has already demonstrated its ability to compete at the front of the Bathurst 12 Hour, while Brown and Feeney bring extensive experience of the circuit and modern GT3 machinery.
Furthermore, Ford’s support should provide the team with valuable technical resources as it prepares the Mustang GT3 Evo for one of the most demanding events on the international racing calendar.
“We did the 12 Hour the first year I joined Triple Eight and since then I’ve really wanted to do it again with the team here – so super pumped, super pumped to have Ford behind it, doing the 12 Hour in that Mustang GT car… feels like we can be strong.”
Although Triple Eight has confirmed two experienced drivers, the identity of the third member of its line-up remains unknown. Brown is particularly enthusiastic about completing the entry and revealing the car’s appearance ahead of the event.
“Excited to announce who the third driver is, even more excited to see the car wrapped and ready to go – this is exciting!”
The organisation will announce its final driver and further details of its Bathurst preparations closer to the race.
Bathurst organisers welcome Triple Eight and Ford Racing partnership
Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour Event Director Shane Rudzis welcomed Triple Eight’s confirmation, describing the team’s return as another significant addition to the 2027 field.
The event continues attracting leading international GT3 teams and manufacturers, while maintaining strong participation from Australian competitors. Triple Eight’s involvement strengthens that domestic representation, particularly through the combination of two established Supercars drivers and factory-backed Ford machinery.
“We’re excited to welcome Triple Eight Race Engineering back to Australia’s International Enduro in 2027.”
Rudzis believes the team’s achievements across Supercars and GT competition reflect the strength of Australian motorsport and its ability to compete against leading international organisations.
“The Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour represents the best of Australian Motorsport taking on the world’s best GT drivers and teams and Triple Eight’s status across both Supercars and GT racing is proof that the Aussie side of the ledger will be very strong in 2027.
He also highlighted the significance of Ford’s continued involvement, particularly as the manufacturer prepares to compete at Mount Panorama with an upgraded version of its Mustang GT3.
“A Ford Mustang joining the grid is exciting news and the involvement of both the team and the brand itself is proof of the standing the event has here in Australia and around the world. It’s another exiting addition to what is shaping as a world-class grid next February.”
Triple Eight joins growing 2027 Bathurst 12 Hour field
Triple Eight’s announcement follows two earlier entry confirmations, with Scott Taylor Motorsport and Tsunami RT already committing to the 2027 event.
Scott Taylor Motorsport will return with Cameron Waters, Chaz Mostert and Thomas Randle aboard its Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo. The all-Australian combination will aim to improve on its 2026 campaign, when Waters secured pole position before the team’s race ended prematurely.
The confirmed return of Scott Taylor Motorsport’s unchanged line-up creates another strong domestic challenge, with the trio bringing considerable Supercars experience to the GT3 field.
Meanwhile, Tsunami RT will return with its distinctive #79 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo after a difficult debut in 2026. The San Marino-based organisation aims to improve on its previous result following the accident involving Johannes Zelger and Ralf Aron.
The Porsche team’s confirmation for a second Bathurst appearance adds further international representation as organisers continue assembling the entry list.
With Triple Eight now joining those teams, the 2027 race will feature another experienced Australian operation capable of challenging for outright honours.
Triple Eight prepares for first race of 2027 at Mount Panorama
The Bathurst 12 Hour will mark the first competitive appearance of 2027 for Feeney and Brown, ahead of their regular Supercars Championship commitments later in February.
For Triple Eight, the event presents an opportunity to strengthen its relationship with Ford Racing while returning to the GT3 category after three years away from the Australian endurance classic.
The team’s previous victory in 2017 demonstrates its ability to succeed at Mount Panorama, although the growth of international GT3 competition has continued raising the standard required to challenge for overall honours.
The updated Mustang GT3 Evo, combined with the experience of Feeney and Brown, provides a competitive foundation for the programme. However, the team must still confirm its third driver and complete its preparations before returning to the circuit.
The 2027 Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour will take place from 12–14 February, with the expanded event programme beginning on 11 February.
A decade after its previous outright triumph, Triple Eight will return to Mount Panorama determined to challenge the world’s leading GT3 competitors and begin another chapter in its endurance racing history with Ford.
