After dominating the British Touring Car Championship with the Factory backed Vauxhall program winning 12 Championships, Triple Eight Race Engineering co-owners Roland Dane, Ian Harrison, Peter Butterly and Derek Warwick, seeking a greater challenge, decided to expand into V8 Supercars in late-2003.
The Australian arm of Triple Eight Race Engineering has built itself into the dominant force in V8 Supercars (in both the Ford and Holden marques) – not finishing lower than second in the Drivers Championship since 2005.
In its 10th anniversary season in 2013, the team achieved something no other had in over half a century of Australian Touring Car/V8 Supercars Championship racing – a third consecutive 1-2 finish in the championship. In 2013, Jamie Whincup sealed his place among the V8 Supercars greats taking his fifth – and third straight Championship, with team-mate Craig Lowndes (himself a three-time Champion) right behind him in the final points score, claiming the runner-up position for the third year in a row and fifth time in his V8 Supercar career.
The 2013 championship success was the team’s first with new backer Red Bull and saw Whincup and Lowndes combine to win 16 races, a total of 36 podium finishes and 14 pole positions.
Teams: Red Bull Racing Australia
Manufacturer: Holden
Team Principal: Roland Dane
Chassis: Holden VF Commodore
Debut: 2003
Drivers’ Championships: 5 (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013)
2013 Championship: 1st
Red Bull Racing Australia
Drivers:
[twocol_one]
#1. Jamie Whincup
Born: 6 February 1983
V8 Supercars Debut: Queensland Raceway 2002
2013: 1st
Career Highlights:
V8 Supercars Champion – 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008
Bathurst 1000 wins – 2012, 2008, 2007, 2006
Australian Formula Ford Champion – 2002
PIRTEK Enduro Cup Co-Driver:
Paul Dumbrell[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]
#888. Craig Lowndes
Born: 21 June 1974
V8 Supercars Debut: Calder Park 1996
2013: 2nd
Career Highlights:
V8 Supercars Champion – 1999, 1998, 1996
Bathurst 1000 wins – 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006, 1996
Australian Formula Ford Champion – 1993
PIRTEK Enduro Cup Co-Driver:
Steven Richards[/twocol_one_last]