{"id":266428,"date":"2026-02-04T01:53:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T01:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/266428\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T01:53:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T01:53:17","slug":"supercars-news-will-brown-to-carry-craig-lowndes-iconic-888","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/266428\/","title":{"rendered":"Supercars news: Will Brown to carry Craig Lowndes’ iconic #888"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Will
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCraig Lowndes hands #888 to Will Brown. Image: Supplied <\/p>\n

Triple Eight has confirmed its flagship digits will return to full-time duties for the first time since Craig Lowndes stepped down at the end of 2018.<\/p>\n

It coincides with Lowndes\u2019 exit from the team after 21 years \u2013 the entire Supercheap Auto wildcard program moving to Team 18 amid Triple Eight\u2019s Ford switch.<\/p>\n

The #888 was allocated to Lowndes when he joined Triple Eight in 2005 and used by the fan favourite in six of his seven Bathurst 1000 wins.<\/p>\n

Like the proverbial fine china, #888 has only come out of the cupboard for special occasions since 2018 \u2013 almost exclusively for Lowndes\u2019 co-driving and wildcard drives.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s being bestowed upon Brown, who wore #87 during his 2024 championship year, as he loses the #1 plate to Walkinshaw Andretti United\u2019s Chaz Mostert.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Craig Lowndes bid farewell to #888 at Sandown in 2025. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n

Lowndes used #888 for the final time during a ride day at Sandown last year<\/a> and, although the number belongs to the team, was asked by Brown for permission to take it over.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis number is iconic to the team. In motor racing and in sports sponsors come and go, liveries change, kits change,\u201d said Lowndes.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut this is Triple Eight Race Engineering, that\u2019s the number and it\u2019s iconic with the success that comes out of this workshop.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first arrived I was lucky enough to carry the number and to see the legacy of the number continue on, it\u2019s an iconic number for the sport, and it\u2019s an iconic number for the team, so it\u2019s going to be really great to see the car running around with that number on the side.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lowndes also tipped Brown to \u201ccome out punching\u201d this season after being out-gunned by teammate Broc Feeney for the majority of 2025.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Lowndes driving #888 to victory at Bathurst in 2006. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n

\u201cI know Will pretty well, to have him carry on that legacy, I think that he\u2019ll do it proud,\u201d added Lowndes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s obviously a great young talent which does sound strange already being a Supercars Champion, he\u2019s a proven young talent.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the new change of manufacturer, the new change of car, the new change of number, it\u2019s all a good fit and I think at the start of the season he\u2019ll come out punching.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brown also expressed his excitement at adopting #888.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s cool to know I\u2019m going into 2026 with such an iconic number on my car,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously there\u2019s a lot of history there, I\u2019ve watched the #888 race around for years now ever since I started watching the sport.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me there wasn\u2019t a question mark. I\u2019ve had two great years already with the team \u2013 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red Bull Ampol Racing will launch its 2026 colours in Geelong on Saturday, February 7, ahead of the first laps for its new Mustangs across February 9 and 10.<\/p>\n

The return of #888 is the second number announcement this week, with Dick Johnson Racing bestowing its famed #17 on Brodie Kostecki this year.<\/a><\/p>\n


\"\"\/
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