Red Bull Racing owner Roland Dane has taken a swipe at defecting engineer Ludo Lacroix, accusing his long-time lieutenant of disloyalty.

Lacroix announced a departure from powerhouse outfit Triple Eight this week, agreeing to join up-and-coming rival Supercars team DJR Team Penske in 2017.

In the latest sign of animosity between the sport’s leading team and the cashed-up Ford upstarts, Dane couldn’t resist criticising his technical director for disloyalty on the way out.

Dane contrasted Lacroix’s departure to fellow ex-Red Bull engineer Adrian Burgess’ move to Holden Racing Team three years earlier.

“It’s what happens when you’re at the top of the category as we have been for a decade. People are going to come and try and steal people from you,” he told Fox Sports from Pukekohe.

“It doesn’t surprise me when someone comes along with more money and wants to spend it.

“I’ve known that Ludo was wanting to leave and … I’m very comfortable with that decision.

“The relationship has run its course. It’s been very good for us.”

With Lacroix placed on gardening leave by Red Bull and not in New Zealand for the season’s penultimate meet, his soon-to-be employers DJR Team Penske declined to comment on the matter.

Lacroix has been one of the key figures in Red Bull’s dominance of the sport.

Should Shane van Gisbergen or Jamie Whincup claim this year’s title as expected, the team will have won all but two of the last nine drivers titles – and eight teams titles in that same stretch.

Lacroix was given a role as Craig Lowndes’ race director during 2016 as the outfit expanded to three cars.

His most memorable moment this year was masterminding a two-stop strategy in Perth that allowed car No.888 to roar through the field from 22nd position for one of Lowndes’ two victories this year.

At DJR Team Penske, Lacroix will work with Kiwi pair Fabian Coulthard and new signing Scott McLaughlin.