CRAIG Lowndes will continue his Supercars Championship career next year with Team 18.
The seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner is splitting with Ford-bound Triple Eight at the end of this year, in order to remain on the General Motors side of the fence.
That left Lowndes with four Camaro squads to choose from and he’s committed to the brand’s incoming homologation team on a two-year deal.
There, he and Supercheap Auto will continue their wildcard program.
“It’s an exciting time ahead,” said Lowndes, who will pair up with Zach Bates for his upcoming final couple of Triple Eight races at The Bend 500 and Bathurst 1000.
“The Supercheap Auto wildcard program has grown from strength to strength during my time at Triple Eight.
“The young kids now look to it as a strong pathway to a future in the sport, we have seen that with previous years and teammates. To be continuing the program for the next two years with Team 18 and GM is a great thing.
“Joining Team 18 was the right move for me being the new homologation team and my strong relationship with GM.
“It’s going to be a big change, joining a new Team after so many years, but there are a lot of familiar faces in there. As well as seeing what Team 18 and Charlie have built in their workshop, it’s first class.
“Supercheap Auto have very much shown their commitment to the program and moving forward. So I am excited to continue to work alongside them, GM and now Team 18 to help continue and develop young drivers in their path in motorsport.”
Team 18 owner Charlie Schwerkolt hailed the deal “an incredible honour”.
“To go from starting as a single-car customer entry in 2013, to building a team from the ground up, to now running a wildcard for one of the most legendary names in Supercars, it’s a proud moment for every person in our organisation,” he said.
“We’ll be throwing everything at this program to ensure it’s competitive from day one. The standard set by Triple Eight with this wildcard over the past few years has been exceptional, and we’re committed to carrying that legacy forward.
“What makes this program so special is not just having Craig behind the wheel, but the opportunity it creates to develop the next generation of Supercars stars.
“We’ve seen the wildcard pathway bring names like Broc Feeney and Cooper Murray into the spotlight, and we’re excited to play a part in unearthing the sport’s future talent.
“Our next step is to identify a rising star to pair with Craig, assemble the right crew, and build a program that can challenge at Bathurst and The Bend.”
Team 18 will field the Supercheap Auto wildcard at one sprint round plus the enduros next year, in addition to its regular pair of Camaros.