Mark Skaife retires fully from V8 Supercar competition

V8 Supercar veteran Mark Skaife has announced his decision to step away from all driving duties to take up his new role as Chairman of the V8 Supercar Commission.

The 44-year-old five time V8 Supercars Champion has competed for Triple Eight Race Engineering in the past two years at the series’ two endurance rounds, taking victory at the Bathurst 1000km last year and his most recent victory along with Craig Lowndes at Phillip Island in September this year.

The rules of the V8 Supercar Commission state that the Chairman cannot be affiliated to any particular team in the Championship.

“This is one of the biggest decisions of my life,” said Skaife.

“I have got to say it’s a decision that’s a bit more of my head and not my heart. Driving a V8 Supercar and racing at Bathurst has been a big part of my life for the last 25 years.”

“I am very proud of where the sport is and I want to do all I can in the next five years to make it grow to the next level again. I can tell how committed the new owners are to the continued growth of the sport and I know how committed I am to it.”

“The commission is specifically tasked with the technical and racing components. I am very excited for one by the Car of the Future program which will take the sport to the next level.”

Mark Skaife had previously stepped down from full-time competition at the end of the 2008 season after racing for the Holden Racing Team since 1998, but has commentated for the series on the Seven Network since and will continue to do so into next year.