Craig Lowndes announces Supercars retirement

CRAIG Lowndes, one of the icons of Australian motorsport, has announced he will retire at the end of the 2018 season.

The three-time drivers’ championship winner will continue to co-drive for Autobarn Racing Team and Triple Eight Race Engineering, the team he has been with since 2005, even though his contract runs until the end of 2019.

3

“I’ve always said there are two key factors keeping me racing and those are my motivation to keep getting up and doing what I love and my competitiveness, and for me, nothing has changed,” Lowndes said in a statement posted on his website.

“But at the same time I want to make sure I finish my last full-time season with some strong results in the bag and after this year’s results so far Roland [Dane] and I came to the decision between us that this will be my last full season behind the wheel.

“I feel extremely lucky to have been able to keep doing what I love at a competitive level for such a long time.

“I have to thank my family and friends, the whole team at Triple Eight and KRE, Supercars, my personal and team sponsors and of course the fans for supporting me throughout.

3

“Ultimately, the fans are the backbone of our great sport and the reason I’ve pulled my helmet on every race weekend, so to them, thank you.”

Lowndes made the announcement on the first day of practice for the Townsville 400. He is currently sitting on fourth place on the drivers’ championship points table.

Supercars Australia said Lowndes was a role model and hero of the sport. "In the relatively short time that I’ve known him, Craig has proved himself to be the same genuine, friendly bloke in person that you see on camera, as well as one of the most tenacious drivers in the series," Supercars chief executive Sean Seamer said.

“He’s a true legend of Australian sport. As an enduro driver, I have no doubt Craig will continue to be a regular visitor to the podium. As an ambassador to the sport, in whatever capacity he chooses, Craig will be a fundamental part of the Supercars family for many years to come and the entire Australian sporting landscape will be saddened to see him hang his helmet up after the last race of the year."

The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport congratulated Lowndes on his "stellar" career. "As a sport, we’ve been very fortunate that Craig has given so much joy to our fans over the years," CAMS chief executive Eugene Arocca said. "Not many athletes can compete at such a high level for some three decades, but Craig, being the professional he is, has done so with enormous success.

"He is a big part of our sport, and an icon of Australian sporting culture generally. We’re glad he’s sticking around to do some driving, and that his trademark smile will continue to be on our television screens."

That latter reference is to the news that Lowndes will join Supercars broadcasts as a commentator from next year.

Triple Eight Race Engineering managing director Roland Dane said Sunday's race, where Lowndes would compete for the last time as a full-time driver, would be an emotional one for the team. "He’s a massive part of the team here and has played a huge role in making Triple Eight what it is today,” Dane said. “We don’t know yet who Craig’s going to be co-driving with for the enduros – that depends on the structure of the team – but he’s undoubtedly got a few more Bathurst wins in him.”

One of the clues to where Lowndes will take the next step in his driving career came via his personal website. “I’ve also always said I’d love to go and do more racing overseas and in different categories," he said. "Le Mans is definitely on the bucket list and hopefully this will enable me to go and do that, which Roland and the team will be supportive of.”