Supercars legend Craig Lowndes has formally departed with his iconic No.888, ending a 20-year affiliation that spanned three manufacturers and 6 Bathurst 1000 victories.
Lowndes left Triple Eight Race Engineering on the finish of final season after the crew switched from Common Motors to Ford for 2026. Lowndes is a world GM ambassador.
Having been used just for Lowndes’ co-drive and wildcard entries since he retired from full-time driving on the finish of 2018, the three-time champion has now handed the quantity to present Triple Eight driver Will Brown.
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Craig Lowndes has handed over his iconic No.888 to Will Brown. Triple Eight
“This quantity is iconic to the crew,” Lowndes stated in a press release.
“In motor racing and in sports activities, sponsors come and go, liveries change, kits change.
“However that is Triple Eight Race Engineering, that is the quantity and it is iconic with the success that comes out of this workshop.”
Lowndes first ran the quantity when he joined the then Ford squad for the 2005 season. He gained 58 races, together with six of Lowndes’ seven Bathurst crowns, 130 podiums and 29 pole positions.
He carried it with him because the crew moved to Holden for 2010, after which once more to Chevrolet for 2023.
Lowndes first drove the No.888 in the course of the 2005 Supercars season. Getty
Lowndes has signed with Group 18, who’ve taken over from Triple Eight because the Common Motors homologation crew, for the 2026 endurance season at The Bend and Bathurst.
He’ll proceed to run because the senior driver within the Supercheap Auto-backed wildcard entry, paired with a younger driver.
“After I first arrived I used to be fortunate sufficient to hold the quantity and to see the legacy of the quantity proceed on, it is an iconic quantity for the game, and it is an iconic quantity for the crew, so it may be actually nice to see the automotive operating round with that quantity on the facet.
“I do know Will fairly properly, to have him keep on that legacy I feel that he’ll do it proud.
“He is clearly an amazing younger expertise which does sound unusual already being a Supercars champion, he is a confirmed younger expertise.
Lowndes final drive on the wheel of the No.888 was on the 2025 Bathurst 1000. Getty
“I feel the brand new change of producer, the brand new change of automotive, the brand new change of quantity, it is all match and I feel in the beginning of the season he’ll come out punching.”
Brown ran with No.87 in his maiden season with Triple Eight in 2024, after which No.1 final 12 months as reigning champion.
He stated asking Lowndes to modify to 888 was a straightforward dialog.
“Clearly there’s rather a lot of historical past there, I’ve watched the No.888 race round for years now ever since I began watching the game,” he stated.
“For me there wasn’t a query mark, I’ve had two nice years already with the crew – one superior 12 months with the championship win and one nice 12 months final 12 months combating all the best way to Adelaide, so it meant rather a lot to me to start out the dialog about 2026 and my race quantity.
“With Craig leaving the crew he thought it finest that the No.888 quantity keep with Triple Eight, he was actually eager for it to remain right here.
“That was a very easy dialog to have understanding how a lot it meant to him. I am actually excited to go racing with that quantity.”
The Supercars season begins underneath lights in Sydney on February 20.
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