Lowndes to split from Triple Eight after 20 years to stay at General Motors

Triple Supercars champion Craig Lowndes will break up along 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 becomes a Ford team next season.

He joined Triple Eight when it was a Ford group in 2005 and took the squad’s maiden V8 Supercars victory the identical 12 months. He has gained six Bathurst 1000 races with the group, which switched to GM’s Holden model in 2010.

Since he stepped down from racing full-time on the finish of 2018, he turned a co-driver, earlier than in 2022 transferring to T8’s Wildcard programme, 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 stated. 

“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 choice and one which has taken plenty of time and thought to work by.

“Loyalty has all the time been a key think about my time with Triple Eight however, at this stage of my profession, I feel it’s the greatest choice to make for my future.

“It’s uncommon that anybody works with the identical folks for 10 years, not to mention 20, so to have the ability to look again on 20 years with the identical racing group and all of the reminiscences we have now shared alongside the way in which may be very particular.

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

“And through that we have now 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.”