Dutton: Lack of Lowndes title 'tears me apart'

Crediting Craig Lowndes as the catalyst for Triple Eight’s Supercars success, manager Mark Dutton says it ‘tears me apart’ that the veteran has not won a title with the squad.

Lowndes announced earlier this month in Townsville that he will retire from full-time driving at the end of the current season, but continue with the Holden team as a co-driver.

The 44-year-old won the championship in each of his first three seasons between 1996 and '99, driving for Tom Walkinshaw’s Holden Racing Team.

After a number of tough campaigns – including stints at Gibson/00 Motorsport and Ford Performance Racing – Lowndes switched to Triple Eight in 2005.

Although enjoying five Bathurst 1000 victories with the team, he’s yet to win a championship with Triple Eight, despite finishing fourth or better in 12 of his 13 seasons.

The fan favourite is currently fifth in the 2018 standings, 431 points down on leader Scott McLaughlin, and not without hope of that elusive fourth crown.

Dutton says Lowndes telling his crew of his impending retirement on the Friday morning in Townsville was an emotional scene, but a motivating one for all involved.

, I was just a cog in the machine.”