CRAIG Lowndes has passed the baton over to Will Brown for future use of the iconic #888.

It was made clear when the Lowndes/Supercheap Auto wildcard was confirmed as heading to Team 18 that the triple-eight digits wouldn’t follow.

They will however remain active via Brown, who has been dubbed Triple Eight’s ‘new Lowndes’ by team co-owner Tony Quinn.

Brown’s previous two seasons with Triple Eight have come using the #87 and #1 (the latter as reward for winning the 2024 championship; Chaz Mostert will have that honour this time around).

“This number is iconic to the team,” said Lowndes.

“In motor racing and in sports sponsors come and go, liveries change, kits change. But this is Triple Eight Race Engineering, that’s the number and it’s iconic with the success that comes out of this workshop.

“When I first arrived I was lucky enough to carry the number and to see the legacy of the number continue on, it’s an iconic number for the sport, and it’s an iconic number for the team, so it’s going to be really great to see the car running around with that number on the side.

“I know Will pretty well; to have him carry on that legacy, I think that he’ll do it proud. He’s obviously a great young talent which does sound strange already being a Supercars champion, he’s a proven young talent.

“I think the new change of manufacturer, the new change of car, the new change of number, it’s all a good fit and I think at the start of the season he’ll come out punching.”

Brown will drive his brand-new #888 Red Bull Ampol Mustang for the first time early next week at Queensland Raceway.

“It’s cool to know I’m going into 2026 with such an iconic number on my car,” said the 27-year-old.

Will Brown. Pic: Mark Walker

“Obviously there’s a lot of history there, I’ve watched the #888 race around for years now ever since I started watching the sport.

“For me there wasn’t a question mark, I’ve had two great years already with the team – one awesome year with the championship win and one great year last year fighting all the way to Adelaide, so it meant a lot to me to start the conversation about 2026 and my race number.

“With Craig leaving the team, he thought it best that the #888 number stay with Triple Eight, he was really keen for it to stay here.

“That was a really easy conversation to have knowing how much it meant to him. I’m really excited to go racing with that number.”

Brown’s teammate Broc Feeney will continue on in the #88 that had long been associated with his predecessor Jamie Whincup.