As revealed by Speedcafe this morning<\/a>, Lacroix is set to part ways with the team, with his current contract expiring on December 31 and not being renewed.<\/p>\nA team statement says Lacroix \u201chas chosen to move on to new opportunities\u201d, while thanking him for \u201cbringing invaluable experience, leadership, and passion to our team environment\u201d.<\/p>\n
Lacroix was the technical brains behind the rise and sustained success of Triple Eight from 2003-2016, before leading DJR Team Penske\u2019s surge from 2017-2020.<\/p>\n
He moved from DJR to PremiAir in 2024 but has not been able to lift the Peter Xiberras-owned squad to the same success.<\/p>\n
Despite big investment in Lacroix, Triple Eight cars and technical support, PremiAir has scored just two podium finishes across those two seasons.<\/p>\n
The team is undergoing major changes for 2026 under the rule of a newly installed principal, Triple Eight founder Roland Dane, which also includes a double driver change.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the things that Gen3 has done, it\u2019s eliminated the special thinking. People like me are less relevant,\u201d Lacroix said in a team video.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe still have fantastic speed in the straight, and we\u2019ve been checked many times on engine and bodywork, etcetera, so I\u2019m quite happy with what we\u2019ve done all together.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019ve made the car slow, but my knowhow and my knowledge has probably not had the impact it would have had in the past.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate, but that\u2019s what the championship is all about these days, more common parts, more everything the same, very little to do in the technical area.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all about driving and driver management, so in that respect, I don\u2019t feel I can participate and help as much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lacroix also pointed to a 90-minute commute from his Brisbane home to the team\u2019s Gold Coast workshop as a challenge of working for PremiAir.<\/p>\n
The Frenchman stressed an ongoing friendship with Xiberras and his belief the team will move forward under Dane\u2019s rule.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would have loved to give Peter more results. I think we\u2019ve got two podiums, a couple of poles here and there. It\u2019s not enough, unfortunately,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there is a new order in place. RD has taken over, really, and is going to make a difference, we know that.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnybody which is thinking he\u2019s not doesn\u2019t understand racing. It\u2019s a new chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lacroix will have his last outing with PremiAir at next weekend\u2019s Adelaide Grand Final and hinted he will not be involved in the Supercars Championship next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will see you in the future, probably, but not necessarily in pit lane, maybe from somewhere else,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s plenty of things to do. I\u2019ve got a young son too, which is go-karting these days, so I\u2019ve got plenty of racing left in me.\u201d<\/p>\n
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