Lowndes' rivals shocked by retirement call

Craig Lowndes' key Supercars rivals say they are “shocked” and “surprised” by his decision to retire from full-time competition at the end of 2018.

The three-time champion dropped the bombshell this morning in Townsville, but will remain with Triple Eight as a co-driver beyond this year.

Lowndes made his full-time debut in 1996, only missing one season since, and became the first Supercars driver to reach 650 starts at Winton in May.

The man he fought and ultimately lost out to in the 2006 title battle, Rick Kelly believes Lowndes is stepping back too early.

“I’m taken by surprise a little bit, and quite saddened by it,” Nissan driver Kelly said.

“Craig and I have had some great battles over time and obviously a couple of clashes as well, but I thought he’s got a little bit more left in the tank.

“It doesn’t feel quite right to me, because he’s been there the entire time I’ve been a driver and obviously a fair bit before as well.

“I started my career at HRT and before I drove I used to unpack the Craig Lowndes hats and put them on a shelf in merchandise and they used to sell more than I could unpack in one go.

“It’s sad, he’s such a massive part of our sport, he’s done so much for it and created a household name for him and dragged the sport along with him.

“I’d like to see him stay for a little longer than what we’ve heard today. It’s quite sad, I reckon.”

, and that was 20 years ago.”

“Certainly as we’ve become the two old blokes in the category, we’ve had a lot of light-hearted jokes together.

“We’ve both been talking to each other for the last 18 months or whatever about who’s going to retire first, because it sort of leaves the other bloke out there. Now he’s going, it leaves me as the oldest bloke.

“In Newcastle at the end of the year I’ll go up and shake his hand, punch him in the gut and tell him I’m going to beat him one last time!”