THEY’RE considered sworn enemies. Two of the greatest masterminds in the modern Supercars era, from rival camps.
But Dick Johnson Racing executive chairman Ryan Story is not shy in expressing his delight at Roland Dane’s return to the Supercars paddock.
Dane founded Triple Eight’s Australian arm, going on to oversee an unprecedented run of success.
His comeback will be as team principal of the championship’s newest squad, PremiAir Racing, starting January 1 (albeit having already appeared in the garage last month at Sandown and Adelaide).
“Having him back in the pitlane is good for the sport, because he is a formidable operator,” Story told V8 Sleuth.
“He has had more success than anyone. That success, it’s an enviable record, and let me tell you this as someone with experience: there is nothing greater in the world almost than beating that bloke.
“It’s a great feeling because you know you have beaten the best.
“So to have him back in the sport is terrific, he will do very good things at PremiAir, and it’s incredibly motivating for everyone because to beat the best means you’re doing something right.
“He’ll do great things there.”
PremiAir is coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign in which it finished 10th in the teams’ championship.
It will start afresh in 2026 with a fresh primary driver line-up of Jayden Ojeda and Declan Fraser, while competition director Ludo Lacroix is departing.