Team 18 announces Lowndes wildcard deal

Team 18 has announced a major coup in the signing of Craig Lowndes, who will join the team in 2026 on a two-year deal.

The seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner will depart Triple Eight Race Engineering at the end of the season, bringing an end to a 21-year run with the team.

With Lowndes committing to General Motors following Triple Eight’s Ford deal, there were questions over where the legendary driver would land next.

It was expected that Lowndes would land with Team 18, which replaced Triple Eight as GM’s homologation team. Confirmed Wednesday, Lowndes will steer a Team 18-run wildcard Chevrolet Camaro at Ryco Enduro Cup races from 2026.

It will be the first non-Triple Eight Supercar Lowndes will drive since he raced for Ford Performance Racing in 2004, and the first non-Triple Eight GM car since his final Holden Racing Team campaign in 2000.

Supercheap Auto will also back the Team 18 wildcard, having carried naming rights on Triple Eight’s wildcard since 2021.

Team 18 said further details, including the co-driver, race number, and personnel for the entry, will be revealed next year.

“It’s an exciting time ahead,” said Lowndes, who has won 110 Supercars races.

“The Supercheap Auto wildcard program has grown from strength to strength during my time at Triple Eight. The young kids now look to it as a strong pathway to a future in the sport, we have seen that with previous years and team mates. To be continuing the program for the next two years with Team 18 and GM is a great thing.

“Joining Team 18 was the right move for me being the new homologation team and my strong relationship with GM. It’s going to be a big change, joining a new Team after so many years, but there are a lot of familiar faces in there. As well as seeing what Team 18 and Charlie have built in their workshop, it’s first class.

"Supercheap Auto have very much shown their commitment to the program and moving forward. So I am excited to continue to work alongside them, GM and now Team 18 to help continue and develop young drivers in their path in motorsport."

Team owner Charlie Schwerkolt added: “It’s an incredible honour to welcome Craig Lowndes and Supercheap Auto to Team 18.

“To go from starting as a single-car customer entry in 2013, to building a team from the ground up, to now running a wildcard for one of the most legendary names in Supercars, it’s a proud moment for every person in our organisation.

“We’ll be throwing everything at this program to ensure it’s competitive from day one. The standard set by Triple Eight with this wildcard over the past few years has been exceptional, and we’re committed to carrying that legacy forward.

“What makes this program so special is not just having Craig behind the wheel, but the opportunity it creates to develop the next generation of Supercars stars. We’ve seen the wildcard pathway bring names like Broc Feeney and Cooper Murray into the spotlight, and we’re excited to play a part in unearthing the sport’s future talent.

“Our next step is to identify a rising star to pair with Craig, assemble the right crew, and build a program that can challenge at Bathurst and The Bend.

“As for the race number? That’s still up for discussion, but we’ve got a few iconic and creative options in the mix.”

Lowndes will contest the upcoming Ryco Enduro Cup races at The Bend and Bathurst with rising star Zach Bates.