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General Motors Continues Partnership with KRE Race Engines for Supercars
In a significant development for the future of General Motors (GM) in the motorsport industry, it has been announced that KRE Race Engines will persist as the engine supplier for Chevrolet teams competing in Supercars. This confirmation solidifies the existing partnership following a statement released by GM on Friday.
Starting next season, all teams utilizing the Camaro will rely on the 5.7-litre V8 engines produced by the Queensland-based KRE. This arrangement mirrors the supply system in place for Ford teams, which receive their engines from Motorsport Powertrains, now under the ownership of Dick Johnson Racing. As Triple Eight transitions to a Ford team and assumes the development and homologation responsibilities for Mustang racers, there are indications that they prefer KRE to extend its services to Ford as well.
GM’s announcement highlighted the enduring relationship with KRE, noting their pivotal role in the success of the Chevrolet Racing LTR V8 engine throughout the Gen3 era. The statement acknowledged the contributions of KRE’s founders, Ken and Wendy McNamara, who have been instrumental in supplying engines to GM teams for over 15 years. Their engines have been key in several historic victories across the series.
“The commitment and expertise exhibited by KRE have significantly influenced the competitiveness of the Camaro ZL1 in the Supercars,” GM stated. The results achieved by Chevrolet Racing teams—culminating in back-to-back Championships during the Gen3 era—serve as a testament to the effectiveness of their powertrain and the collaborative efforts of McNamara and his team.
Chris Payne, general manager of Chevrolet Racing, expressed confidence in the importance of the powertrain within the Supercars framework, emphasizing that fans value the distinctiveness of brand competition. He looks forward to furthering the partnership with KRE as they continue in the Supercars league.
Amid this positive development for GM, questions loom regarding Ford’s future direction. There is uncertainty about whether Ford will continue its relationship with Motorsport Powertrains or pursue a new engine partnership as they adapt to the evolving landscape of Supercars.
Meanwhile, work persists on the newly-introduced Toyota 2UR-GSE V8 engine, with advance development efforts underway at Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU). The project is reportedly benefiting from significant contributions from Toyota’s affiliated offices in Australia, the United States, and Japan. WAU, along with another team yet to be announced, is set to field Toyota Supras in the 2026 season and beyond.
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www.motorsport.com