The Triple Eight team has announced that seven-time Bathurst winner Craig Lowndes has extended his contract with them, making him a 20-year member of the squad.
Lowndes, 49, has agreed to a two-year extension of his contract with the title squad to the end of the 2025 campaign.
In 2024, the team will have been together for 20 years since Lowndes joined Triple Eight for the first time in 2005.
Lowndes raced for the team full-time between 2005 and 2018, winning the Bathurst 1000 six times for them three times in Fords and three times in Holdens.
Lowndes signs milestone
With the contract extension, Triple Eight will run Lowndes in endurance races in a wildcard vehicle for the ensuing two years.
With 19 seasons with Triple Eight, Lowndes has the longest tenure of any driver with a single team, outside of a team owner/driver.
The three-time series champion has won 58 races, 29 pole positions, 130 podium places, four Sandown 500 victories, and two Phillip Island 500 victories while racing with Triple Eight.
Lowndes has nine podium finishes, 12 top-five finishes, and 14 top-ten finishes in 18 Bathurst appearances with Triple Eight.
With Zane Goddard, he will make start No. 30 overall and No. 19 for Triple Eight in the team’s Supercheap Auto-backed wildcard Camaro at the Repco Bathurst 1000.
Prior to the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 on September 15,17, Lowndes signs milestone and Goddard will first test at Queensland Raceway on September 4.
I’m thrilled to continue my racing career with Triple Eight.
For the ensuing two years, and I’m looking forward to celebrating my 20th anniversary with the team in 2024, he stated.
“During the past 18 and a half years, I’ve had some incredible experiences with Triple Eight, and I want to thank Jamie [Whincup], Jess [Dane], and the crew Lowndes signs milestone for wanting to continue this fruitful collaboration.
It’s absurd to think that we’ll be marking 20 years of marriage next year!
“When I ended my career as a full-time racer at the end of 2018, I always stated that I wanted to stay involved by developing the Supercars racers of the future, which I’ve had the good fortune to do through the team’s wildcard program.
I find it to be both professionally and personally satisfying.
It allows me to give back to the sport that has played such a significant role in my life. For the time being, I’m really anticipating the forthcoming.
Enduro season with Zane Goddard and can’t wait to get started on our upcoming test sessions in order to get ready for the Sandown 500 in September.
Whincup, the manager of Triple Eight and a three-time Bathurst champion alongside Lowndes signs milestone, praised the historic rebirth.
To carry on his legacy with the team into a 20th year and beyond is genuinely extraordinary, according to Whincup. “Lowndesy is definitely a significant part of Triple Eight’s DNA,” Whincup added.
Lowndes signs milestone
“I’ve personally had a lot of experiences with Craig. But our three-peat at the Bathurst 1000 is one I’ll always treasure. Without his contribution to the team and the sport as a whole, we wouldn’t be where we are right now.
“Lowndesy’s worth is equally valuable on and off the track. We have witnessed his incredible mentoring of the young athletes in our sport through the two years of success. Our Supercheap Auto Racing wildcard program.
These young guns “can only dream of having someone of Lowndesy’s quality by their side imparting his race craft and knowledge.”
The legendary Supercars driver joined Triple Eight in 2005.
As the ambitious team led by Roland Dane’s first significant acquisition. He was a key contributor to the team’s transformation into a dominant unit. Winning 58 races along the way, including six Bathurst 1000 titles.
While his full-time contract with T8 came to an end at the end of the 2018 season. He has remained with the team ever since as an enduro driver.
He now oversees the team’s wildcard program and will race with Zane Goddard at the Bathurst 1000 and Sandown 500.
His time at Triple Eight will now be extended to 2025.
Marking a milestone of two decades, thanks to his commitment to the organization’s upcoming two endurance seasons.
Along with the agreement, Supercheap Auto increased its support for T8. In 2024, Lowndes will celebrate 20 years of racing with Triple Eight. “I’m really happy to be continuing my racing career with Triple Eight for the next two years,” Lowndes remarked.
“During the past 18 and a half years, I’ve had some incredible experiences with Triple Eight, and I want to thank Jamie [Whincup], Jess [Dane], and the crew for wanting to continue this fruitful collaboration. It’s absurd to think that we’ll be commemorating 20 years of marriage in 2019!
“When I ended my career as a full-time racer at the end of 2018. I always stated that I wanted to stay involved by developing the Supercars racers of the future. Which I’ve had the good fortune to do through the team’s wildcard program.
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