Winterbottom fired up over tense WTWGR/Triple Eight rivalry

Mark Winterbottom was the leading light against Triple Eight for the majority of his esteemed Supercars career, including a memorable rivalry that simmered with Jamie Whincup for more than a decade.

So you can bet that he is relishing watching on from afar as Whincup and Triple Eight find themselves once again in the middle of a heated rivalry.

A rivalry that exploded into life at last year's bp Adelaide Grand Final has continued to escalate in the start of the 2026 season, however the flashpoints have proven to come off track as opposed to on it.

Adelaide protagonists Broc Feeney and Ryan Wood have admitted that they're still not on speaking terms several months on from the incident, with that rivalry now boiling over from a driver rivalry to a full-blown team rivalry.

Walkinshaw appeared on the Lucky Dogs podcast (co-hosted by Triple Eight's 2024 champion Will Brown) at the beginning of the month, and doubled down on his garage reaction to the Wood/Feeney collision in Adelaide.

Whincup then appeared in an Apex Hunters United social media clip a few days later, making the accusation that WTWGR were running illegal Toyota chassis for both Wood and reigning champion Chaz Mostert.

Walkinshaw immediately rebuked these claims, however tensions were still simmering throughout the Melbourne SuperSprint weekend, with Brown and Mostert having a run-in in Race 6 on Saturday.

"I love it, I think it's great," said Winterbottom on the Bailey Ladders Run Home podcast.

"It obviously started last year, then went into the Finals with Ryan Wood and Broc having contact, Chaz goes on and wins the championship. Big tick Walkinshaw, he wins that battle.

"But then it flows on doesn't it? It goes in to this year, and Broc and Woody have got their rivalry going on, but now Whincup has come out and he's been quite vocal, I actually like seeing this side of Jamie.

"I guess I saw the villain in him when I was racing, but he's very calculated and very clever in what he's saying.

"And Ryan Walkinshaw has got so much passion for his team and what he does, so together that's bubbling in the background, which is really cool."

Sydney gave us some brief glimpses of the Wood vs Feeney rivalry, however Winterbottom is adamant that the pair will come to blows this season, which will only serve to further intensify the rivalry.

"Woody and Feeney, I'm sure that's going to come to a head at some stage this year," Winterbottom said.

"What I do love is that Whincup has got Feeney's back and Brown's back, supports them massively. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and he represents his team well.

"And then Walkinshaw, he has 100% got Woody's back, and also Chaz. And he's a fighter and ready for a scrap, so get your popcorn, I'm looking forward to it.

"They're two top teams with four of the best drivers in the category, and at the moment Triple Eight is winning the battle this year, but wait until Finals when there's four guys again.

"It's going to explode, I love it. I think it's great for the sport."

The 2026 season resumes in New Zealand on April 10-12.