FOR all the change that’s gone on at Triple Eight Race Engineering, there is one factor that stands out as the biggest unknown of all.

Yes, the Brisbane squad has swapped from Chevrolet to Ford. And yes, they have taken on an in-house engine program for the first time.

All that said, you can just about bet your bottom dollar on Broc Feeney and Will Brown being in the Supercars finals come October.

But where does its newest Repco Supercars Championship driver fit into the pecking order?

That of course is rookie Jackson Walls, who has been entrusted with driving the SCT entry in its first season since swapping allegiances from Brad Jones Racing to Triple Eight.

While the #11 Mustang will look different (Objective backing as opposed to Red Bull Ampol) and will be positioned separately in pitlane, it’s very much a Triple Eight-built and -run car.

Pic: Matthew Paul Photography

It’s not uncharted territory for Triple Eight to field a rookie (i.e. Feeney in 2022). Nor is having a three-car fleet, as was the case in 2016-18.

Through it all, Triple Eight has gone 20 successive seasons without having a driver finish outside the championship’s top 10.

The last such occurrence was prior to managing director Jamie Whincup’s Triple Eight days, when Steven Ellery placed 13th in the 2005 standings (largely a result of three did-not-starts).

So, is finals a possibility for Walls in 2026?

Whincup has been quick to preach patience when it comes to the Super2 and Carrera Cup race winner, who put his Objective Ford through its paces this week at Ipswich.

“We’re not going to throw a number at it,” Whincup told V8 Sleuth of Walls.

“All I’m asking is for everyone to give Jackson the time he deserves to be able to get up to speed.

Jackson Walls. Pic: Matthew Paul Photography

“It’s the main game, it’s the toughest touring car championship in the world, so it’s going to take a little bit of time.

“We’ll start off in a place and what we will do is gain momentum as the year goes on.”

With its expansion to three cars plus the establishment of an engine shop, Triple Eight made the conscious decision to put all its eggs in the Supercars Championship basket this year.

That means no Super2, no GT3 and no GT4 for the time being.

“Supercars is our passion and while I enjoyed the GT stuff – and that may come back in the future – right now we have got a commitment to all of the Ford teams with our homologation team responsibility, which includes our engine shop,” said Whincup.

“Between our HT responsibility and the engine shop, RBAR and the third car, that’s by far enough activity for any one business to be able to undertake.

“So that’s the reason why we have chosen to focus on that only and eliminate any other distractions. That may change in the future, but that’s where we’re at, at this stage.”

Isaac Baldry, who was Walls’ Super2 race engineer, will continue working with the 23-year-old this season.