It’s that time of the year again, when the nations leading racing teams are announcing the new deals they’ve done with truck companies to supply the shiny new prime movers that are needed to haul the impressive and well kitted B-Double rigs carrying the race teams around the country.
With the start of the Supercar Championship one of the most significant announcements surrounded the reigning championship team of Red Bull Ampol Racing. The RedBull Triple 888 team rolled out its new Mercedes-Benz Actros transporter at the first round of the 2025 Supercars Championship in Sydney last weekend. Unfortunately Red Bull spent the weekend chasing the Mustangs of the Tickford race team, which interestingly announced last week that it has signed a deal with Chinese truck maker FAW.
Fresh from a season that saw its drivers Will Brown and Broc Feeney finish first and second in the series, Red Bull Ampol Racing has welcomed a fresh Actros 2663 truck cab to take over transporter towing duties.
The Triple Eight Race Engineering outfit operated a 2663 from the start of the 2021 season but upgraded to a new 2663 with the bigger GigaSpace cab that Mercedes boasts, provides more space for the driver.
The 16-litre Actros produces 625hp of power, which is not too far away from the ‘635hp-plus’ output of Red Bull Ampol Racing Camaro it hauls, but the big Mercedes-Benz also generates an immense 3000Nm of torque.
In addition to the 2663 for the Red Bull Ampol Racing team, Triple Eight Race Engineering also added a new Mercedes-Benz 2663 for its Super2 squad.
Daimler Truck Australia Pacific president and CEO, Daniel Whitehead, said it is excited to see a new Actros hauling the Red Bull Ampol Racing transporter.
“Triple Eight Race Engineering has an unmatched history of success and Daimler Truck is thrilled to see our new truck in their colours,” Whitehead said.
“Jamie (Whincup) and the rest of the team understand the value of quality equipment, innovation and safety technology better than anyone else, so it makes sense for them to continue using the most advanced heavy vehicles available in Australia,” he added.
Triple Eight Race Engineering managing director, Jamie Whincup, who also happens holds a Multi Combination Heavy Vehicle licence, says the team is ‘stoked’ to take delivery of the new Mercedes-Benz trucks.
“We like to surround ourselves with market leaders – and when you have such world-leading, top of the range products like the 2663, it’s a no brainer for us,” Whincup said.
Whincup said the trucks play a very important role for the race team.
“When you have millions of dollars worth of equipment, and some very special race cars travelling across the country, we want them to make it to each location safely and securely,” he said.
The seven-time Supercar champion said he’s looking forward to driving the Actros 2663.
“I’ll take any opportunity I can to get behind the wheel,” he said.
The GigaSpace cab introduces a new level of practicality for Actros drivers.
This spacious home away from home features 2.13metres of interior height, measured from the floor between the seats to the ceiling, providing ample room for the tallest drivers.
Other benefits of the GigaSpace cab include the increased storage with three large cupboards built into the front of the truck, sitting above the windscreen. An optional microwave can be installed in the centre cupboard.
The Actros features Predictive Powertrain Control, which uses topographic map data and GPS information to help the truck anticipate terrain and select the optimum shift pattern and engine response for maximum fuel economy.
It also features two 12-inch customisable tablet screens that present information in super crisp detail, giving the driver more control and information in a clear and stylish manner.
