TRIPLE Eight Race Engineering has confirmed the recruitment of rising star Cooper Murray to its 2024 Repco Supercars Championship wildcard program.
As predicted by V8 Sleuth last November, Murray will be Craig Lowndes’ new partner for the fourth year of Triple Eight’s #888 Supercheap Auto wildcard.
The 22-year-old established himself as hot property in the single-make Porsche racing scene between 2018 and 2021, and briefly dabbled overseas before committing to the Supercars pathway.
Last March in Newcastle, Murray won his debut Super2 race, and added another victory later in the year at Sandown.
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He’s back for a second season with Eggleston Motorsport, and will have opportunities on the biggest stage to make his case for a 2025 main game seat.
Triple Eight/Supercheap is yet to confirm its exact schedule, but Zane Goddard last year made a solo start in Darwin in addition to racing the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 with Lowndes.
“I’m super excited and extremely grateful to have this amazing opportunity to join such a prestigious team in Triple Eight and an icon in our sport, Craig Lowndes,” said Murray.
“It’s going to be a very exciting year and I can’t wait to get stuck into it.
“I’ve always admired what Supercheap Auto and Triple Eight have done with this wildcard program, giving young kids the chance to prove themselves and seeing what it takes.
“If you look at Broc (Feeney) and Declan (Fraser), they both got the opportunity to become main game drivers the year after their wildcard stint, and then obviously with Zane last year, it was great to see him get back in a car after a tough few years for him.
“One hundred percent my aim is to get into the main game. Competing in both Super2 and the wildcard program this year is going to give me a lot of experience and hopefully I can progress into the Supercars Championship.
“I’m now looking forward to being with Triple Eight at race meetings this year and taking everything they do in and learn as much as I can.”
Lowndes, who is under contract until the end of 2025, voiced his excitement at the opportunity to guide Murray.
“Every year we’ve been doing the wildcard, we continuously improve on the little things, but the main thing is to give the young guys the chance to improve, impress and hopefully we can share a bit of our wisdom so they can step up to bigger and better things,” said the 49-year-old.
“I’ve raced against Cooper in the Porsche series before, and he’s since stepped up into Super2. With my commentary role, I’ve obviously interviewed him a number of times and he presents very well.
“His race craft is good and he thinks on his feet which is even better. I’m really excited to work with him, share a car with him and see what his feedback is like so I can help him out both on-and-off the track.
“Every team has a different philosophy and way of working.
“For me, I’ve always loved the way Triple Eight have continued their ethos, and it’s always been exciting to bring new people into that environment to see them thrive.
“It will be important for him to get familiar with the team early so once we start to share a car, we’ll know each other more than what we already do.”
Triple Eight thus far is the only team to confirm a wildcard, although Matt Stone Racing is believed to be advanced in plans with Cameron Crick.
