{"id":310958,"date":"2026-03-03T12:46:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T12:46:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/310958\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T12:46:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T12:46:19","slug":"v8-supercars-legend-craig-lowndes-talks-bathurst-1000-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/310958\/","title":{"rendered":"V8 Supercars legend Craig Lowndes talks Bathurst 1000 retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Lowndes
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCraig Lowndes is a member of Supercars’ TV team. Image: Richard Gresham <\/p>\n

Lowndes and the wildcard program have made the shift from Triple Eight to Team 18 this season following the legend\u2019s decision to stay loyal to General Motors.<\/p>\n

The contract between the parties was announced last August as a two-year deal<\/a>, with no detail around subsequent planning.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the weekend\u2019s Adelaide Motorsport Festival, Lowndes hinted at a three-year timeline that may include a transition away from driving.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be around for this year and next year as a driver and then see what year three looks like. That\u2019s the program at the moment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether year three I\u2019m in the driver\u2019s seat or I\u2019m actually then helping drive the team with two young drivers, I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut for the next two years I\u2019ll be helping out that next generation, and I\u2019ve really enjoyed that program.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m pretty cruisey, I can come into Bathurst and the \u2018500, they do the heavy lifting, as long as I\u2019m the anchor man that doesn\u2019t screw up, I\u2019m OK.\u201d<\/p>\n

Team 18 to launch wildcard entry at free fan event<\/a><\/p>\n

Lowndes will be 53 years old by the time the 2027 Bathurst 1000 rolls around and almost a decade on from the end of his full-time driving career.<\/p>\n

It\u2019ll take him to 34 Great Race starts, one shy of all-time record holder Jim Richards, having equalled his late mentor Peter Brock for second in 2025.<\/p>\n

Team 18 boss Charlie Schwerkolt told Speedcafe following last year\u2019s announcement that the contract with Lowndes contains an option to become an ambassador in 2028.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not saying that [it\u2019s definitely the timeline], but it\u2019s an option to do that,\u201d Schwerkolt said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe he wins Bathurst in \u201927 and goes \u2018I want to do one more year\u2019. It\u2019s to be decided.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur deal is two years with an option. That\u2019s what we\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seven-time Great Race winner Lowndes has fronted the Supercheap wildcard program since 2022.<\/p>\n

He\u2019ll be joined in the entry this year by Porsche graduate Bayley Hall, who is combining the wildcard with an Eggleston Motorsport Super2 program.<\/p>\n

Three of Lowndes\u2019 previous wildcard partners \u2013 Declan Fraser, Cooper Murray and Zach Bates \u2013 are currently full-time Supercars drivers.<\/p>\n

Trio of iconic Lowndes, Brock HRT Commodores to re-emerge<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a great program for me, I\u2019ve really enjoyed it,\u201d Lowndes added.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously stepping out of a main drive in 2018, people asked me, could I, should I have carried on? Maybe yes, maybe no.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I learned a lot from Peter Brock, who was my mentor. He was always very willing and open in giving advice and I\u2019ve sort of gone full circle.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just great to give an opportunity. I was very lucky and fortunate that HRT gave me my opportunity with Peter.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo get that opportunity is hard, but when you\u2019ve got that door open you\u2019ve got to grab it with both hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really excited to see Declan Fraser now back into the main game and Zach Bates this year going on, using that program to step up and continue on.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Supercheap wildcard debuted in 2021 with veteran Russell Ingall and young gun Broc Feeney, who moved into a main Triple Eight drive the following year.<\/p>\n


\"\"\/
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