Triple Eight expands GT program

The Supercars team will effectively double their Australian GT presence for upcoming outings at The Bend Motorsport Park and Bathurst International.

The lead car will continue to be contested by Prince Geoffrey Ibrahim, who will be partnered by Brock Feeney at The Bend, followed by Shane van Gisbergen at Mount Panorama.

The second AMG will feature Prince Geoffrey’s younger brother, Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim, teaming up with T8 boss Jamie Whincup.

The Bend will mark Abu’s debut on Australian soil, however he has considerable Triple Eight experience having competed for the team in GT World Challenge Asia.

“With our races in Asia finished for the year, we have turned our full attention to the remaining rounds of GT World Challenge Australia, which means we will be running two cars under the Triple Eight-JMR banner,” T8’s Andrew Simpson said.

“Prince Abu Bakar has done a great job in his first full season of racing and we are looking to capitalize on that momentum. He is in very good company with Jamie Whincup as co-driver so this will be a good opportunity for him to learn.

“Prince Geoffrey is coming back to Australia after winning the Pro-Am title in Japan so he should be confident going into the weekend and it’s a track he knows pretty well.

“He and Brock took a couple of podiums at The Bend last year and have a good chance of going a place or two better this weekend.”

There will be a pair of one-hour races at The Bend this weekend before the three-hour enduro at Bathurst International on the second weekend of November.

Triple Eight has already enjoyed GT success at Mount Panorama this year after SunEnergy1 powered by T8 Mercedes took out the Bathurst 12 Hour back in May.