Lowndes set for Triple Eight split to stay with General Motors

Craig Lowndes has introduced that he’ll break up together with his group of 20 years, Triple Eight, on the finish of the season, to stay a Common Motors driver in 2026.

Lowndes will be a part of with a to-be-named Chevrolet Supercars group whereas Triple Eight turns into a Ford group subsequent season.

He joined Triple Eight when it was a Ford group in 2005 and took the group’s maiden V8 Supercars victory the identical yr. He has received six Bathurst 1000 races with the group, which switched to GM’s Holden model in 2010.

Since he stepped down from racing full-time in 2018, he grew to become a co-driver, earlier than in 2022 shifting to T8’s Wildcard program, through which he’s joined by and mentors a younger driver. That can proceed this season, when he races alongside Super2 champion Zach Bates in The Bend 500 and the Bathurst 1000.

“I’ve nothing however good emotions and nice reminiscences from my time at Triple Eight,” Lowndes mentioned in an announcement. “I’ve nothing however respect for them as a race group, engineering organisation and importantly the folks inside – in any respect ranges.

“This has been a really powerful resolution and one which has taken lots of time and thought to work via. Loyalty has all the time been a key think about my time with Triple Eight, however at this stage of my profession I believe it’s the greatest resolution to make for my future.

“It’s uncommon that anybody works with the identical folks for ten years, not to mention twenty, so to have the ability to look again on twenty years with the identical racing group and all of the reminiscences now we have shared alongside the way in which could be very particular.

“To be a part of the group from their childhood and thru to them changing into the powerhouse they’re right now has been essentially the most fulfilling a part of my profession.

“And through that now we have shared superb success collectively and big milestones in my profession — I can solely say ‘thanks’ to everybody who has been a part of the journey, contained in the group and past as nicely.”