Photo: Chevrolet

Craig Lowndes to depart Triple Eight at season end

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Craig Lowdes has announced that he will leave Triple Eight at the end of the current Supercars season and remain part of the General Motors family.

Lowndes first joined forces with Triple Eight back in 2005 and has gone on to score six wins at Bathurst, whilst also finishing as championship runner-up half a dozen times.

Even after the now 50-year-old retired from full-time competition in 2018, he remained with Triple Eight as a co-driver for the endurance events before taking on the lead role in Triple Eight’s wildcard programmes at Bathurst.

Lowndes will race with Triple Eight at The Bend and Bathurst this season alongside Zach Bates.

“I have nothing but good feelings and great memories from my time at Triple Eight,” Lowndes said. “I have nothing but respect for them as a race team, engineering organisation and importantly the people with in – at all levels.

“This has been a very tough decision and one that has taken a lot of time and thought to work through. Loyalty has always been a key factor in my time with Triple Eight, but at this stage of my career I think it is the best decision to make for my future.

“It is rare that anyone works with the same people for ten years, let alone twenty, so to be able to look back on two decades with the same racing team and all the memories we have shared along the way is very special.

“To be part of the team from their formative years and through to them becoming the powerhouse they are today has been the most fulfilling part of my career.

“During that we have shared amazing success together and huge milestones in my career — I can only say ‘thank you’ to everyone who has been part of the journey, inside the team and beyond as well.”

Lowndes will remain active with GM when Triple Eight makes its return to Ford next year, with his racing programme yet to be revealed.

“We are thrilled to continue our long-term relationship with Craig Lowndes,” general manager for Marting aftersales and Chevrolet Racing Chris Payne said. “Craig is the perennial fan favourite – even to this day, some 30 years after his debut.

“He has become the face of ACDelco to our loyal GM Trade customers. We have exciting plans for the years ahead, that will result in us working even more closely with Craig on GM Aftersales initiatives and Chevrolet Racing.”