TRIPLE Eight Race Engineering has formally decided to shut down its Super2 Series program at the end of the year.
The Supercars juggernaut returned to the second tier in 2019 after a five-year hiatus and won the title last year with Broc Feeney, who subsequently graduated to the main game.
It’s on track to go back-to-back with Declan Fraser carrying a 75-point lead heading into the Adelaide finale in December.
However, its future participation has for months been under a cloud given Gen3’s introduction next year will see the 2023 Super2 field exclusively made up of ZB Commodores and Ford Mustangs.
Triple Eight does not own any of its five Car of the Future chassis that have competed in Supercars or Super2 this season.
Triple Eight managing director Jamie Whincup today confirmed it will not return in 2023, instead focusing on its Gen3 and GT programs.
“Super2 is off for us next year,” Whincup said.
“We have got a big program with Gen3 and we also want to expand our GT program as well, so we have made the call.
MORE: Triple Eight on brink of historic first
“It’s a sad decision that we won’t continue with Super2.
“The main decision was to just give the staff and crew a little bit of a breather after what has been an unbelievably massive year designing Gen3 cars.”
The news means that at least Cameron Hill will be a high-profile free agent for Super2 next year.
Declan Fraser could join him in that boat should he not secure the Matt Stone Racing Camaro seat vacated by Todd Hazelwood.
V8 Sleuth understands that is still far from a done deal as negotiations continue between the parties.
Further making for a shaken-up Super2 silly season, MW Motorsport has still yet to commit for 2023 given its Nissan Altimas have been ruled to be no longer eligible (instead relegated to Super3).
MWM is the most successful team in Super2 history with four titles.
Triple Eight will move into outright second on that list if Fraser seals the deal, having also won the 2011 series with Andrew Thompson behind the wheel.
