Triple Eight Race Engineering welcomes Earl Evans and Steve Blackmore to the team, who have purchased Jessica Dane’s 30% share of the championship-winning Brisbane-based outfit.

Both Earl and Steve have established themselves over the last two decades as some of Australia’s most distinguished businessmen, holding the CEO roles of their respective businesses; Shaw and Partners Financial Services and Southern Cross Truck Rentals. They are both avid motorsport fans, sponsoring various motorsport teams and drivers through their respective business portfolios. Both bring extensive experience as proven business operators, having navigated numerous economic cycles.

Jessica boasts 15 years of experience in various roles at the Banyo-based powerhouse, which included positions in sub-assembly, Team Coordinator, Communications Manager and Team Manager. She became a co-owner of the team in 2015, before relocating to the United States at the end of 2023 where she currently holds the position of Motorsports Integration Manager at General Motors.

The restructured shareholdings see Jamie Whincup, who bought into the business in 2018, retain his 30% ownership in the team, and well as Tony Quinn who retains his 40% stake. Former Triple Eight Owner and Managing Director, Roland Dane, will remain as the team’s non-Executive Chaiman.

The transition of ownership will take immediate effect. Triple Eight’s focus is fully on delivering the best results possible on and off the track for our partners, fans and stakeholders this year and into the future.

“I’m thrilled to announce these exciting strategic changes as it prepares Triple Eight for the next phase of growth.

"Firstly, we can’t ignore Jess’ enormous contribution to the team over her incredible tenure. She has been an invaluable member of the Triple Eight family since day dot working in all facets of the business. We understand Jess's commitment to her career aspirations in the US, and we know she will always remain connected to the foundations her father RD (Roland Dane) built.

"In saying that, we are thrilled to welcome Earl and Steve to our shareholder group. Their wealth of business experience will enhance our team and support our continued evolution, strengthening our current programs and engaging new opportunities. Their passion and expertise align perfectly with our vision for the future, and I'm excited to see where we can take it.”

Jessica Dane, Former Shareholder, Triple Eight Race Engineering:

“This has certainly been one of the most difficult decisions of my life.

“I’m incredibly proud of what Triple Eight has achieved over the years and honoured to have been able to play a small part along the way. However, I know it’s the right decision. While I’ve lived in the US, I’ve hated that I can only give a fraction of my time, energy and capacity to a team that means so very much to me.

“Some of my earliest memories are at British race tracks in the mid-90s watching the Triple Eight Race Engineering Vauxhall Vectras cutting laps in the British Touring Car Championship. The team has literally been in my family since those days! Additionally, I need to be able to give my all to settling into life in the US and every obligation I have in Australia detracts from that, which I don’t feel is fair for Triple Eight.

“I am delighted that two such passionate people in Earl and Steve are joining Triple Eight. While their business experience is undoubtedly an asset for the board of directors, I felt very strongly that the team deserves people who care about the success and longevity of motorsport as a whole.

“I am very grateful to them for this opportunity to hand 30% of Triple Eight over to people who I know in my gut want the best for the sport, as well as every single member of the team, present and past, who has contributed to some of my very best life memories.”

Earl Evans, Shareholder, Triple Eight Race Engineering:

“I was looking for an equity stake in a Supercars team and a business of large scale and size that excelled outside of Supercars, in this case Triple Eight’s engineering and manufacturing entity. Obviously, the team’s success was an added attraction, and there’s certainly a challenge ahead to maintain that success, but at the end of the day it was a perfect fit for me.

“I’ve followed Supercars since I was very young. I’ve watched every Bathurst and every Sandown since I was five years old and have now followed the series for over five decades, so I know the sport very well. I had a taste of Supercars as a sponsor over the past couple of years, and the next logical step was to take an equity position and to take on ownership, that’s why I was looking around in the sport for an opportunity and that’s when this presented itself.

“Our job will be to sit on the board, and my role will be to support the current structure that’s been wildly successful in whatever way I can, whether that be in the commercial space, my business experience or other ways. Essentially, I will be there to support Jamie (Whincup, Managing Director) and the team to continue with its success – that’s my vison. I’ve been in business for 35-years and have a lot of contacts, so hopefully I can break open my rolodex to help the team whoever might be needed.

“5000-percent you will see my face at plenty of Supercars races into the future, I’m so excited to get stuck into it. With the added responsibilities of team ownership, I’m looking forward to amassing myself with this great team wherever I can. I know this team is there to compete and win races at the end of the day, but to me, it was a natural progression to go from team sponsor to team owner, and when Triple Eight came along it was a no brainer.”

Steve Blackmore, Shareholder, Triple Eight Race Engineering:

“Having owned multiple companies over the past 20 years, the prospect of buying into an established and successful business in Triple Eight Race Engineering was really exciting.

“Having had a passion for motorsport that goes back to my childhood, in recent years I had been involved as a personal sponsor of athletes in the sport and teams through my numerous businesses, which fueled my desire to purchase an equity stake in a team.

“I had been looking for an opportunity to transition from sponsor to investor in the sport and the opportunity at Triple Eight was both a perfect opportunity and fit. Triple Eight is without peer in the sport in my opinion and it has a proven track record of delivering results that are consistently the best in motorsports in Australia.

“The opportunity to invest is achievable as the company is self-sufficient with its existing structure, processes and systems and I’ll be able to enjoy participating as a part owner whilst the business not being dependent on me to operate.”