TRIPLE Eight Race Engineering has signalled its intentions to keep Craig Lowndes on its Supercars roster beyond this season.
Contrary to suggestions the seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner could retire sooner than later, V8 Sleuth understands Lowndes has every intention of continuing co-driving next season provided his standard doesn’t suddenly plummet.
Last year, he led the charge to the best ever Great Race result for a wildcard, combining with Declan Fraser for eighth, and this time around he’ll be paired with Zane Goddard.
Lowndes’ current Triple Eight contract expires at the end of this year but the Banyo squad has voiced a desire to take its partnership with the fan favourite into a 20th season together.
“We’re trying to see what the future is for our wildcard program, which is really important to us,” Triple Eight managing director Jamie Whincup told V8 Sleuth when asked about Lowndes’ future with the team.
“We have got a really fantastic naming rights sponsor in Supercheap Auto that want to continue also, so we’ll be having those discussions in the next few months.
“Craig is part of the wallpaper at Triple Eight so we’d certainly love to keep him.
“Every year at Bathurst he is fast and on the pace so right now we’d love to have him in the car.”
The focus on Lowndes comes after Triple Eight cemented its primary drivers for 2024, with Shane van Gisbergen and Broc Feeney locked in once more.
If Lowndes contests the 2024 Bathurst 1000, he’ll do so at the age of 50.
That won’t exactly be uncharted territory though, given Russell Ingall and Greg Murphy have been in their 50s when lining up for recent editions of the Great Race.
