Lowndes' final Triple Eight enduro campaign launched

Craig Lowndes' final Triple Eight Race Engineering Supercar has been officially unveiled.

Suiting up for his fourth season in the Supercheap Auto-backed wildcard #888 entry, Lowndes will depart Triple Eight at the end of the season amid their blockbuster switch to Ford for 2026, with the seven-time Bathurst winner remaining loyal to GM.

October's Repco Bathurst 1000 will bring an end to a 21-year partnership between Lowndes and Triple Eight, in which the 51-year-old enjoyed a career resurgence headlined by six Bathurst wins, including an unprecedented three-peat from 2006-2008.

Lowndes will team up with reigning Dunlop Super2 Series champion Zach Bates for the Enduro Cup, with Bates also confirmed to make his main game debut at the Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440 in a solo wildcard driving the #888.

This year will be the first time Lowndes has driven alongside a defending development series champion in the Triple Eight wildcard, with the three-time Supercars champion eager to put Bates' experience to good use.

“The benefit this year for the Wildcard program is that Zach has a Super2 Championship under his belt. He comes with another twelve months of experience on that side of it," said Lowndes.

"He's very mature. I also think that he understands the program because he sees what's been going on over the last couple of years.

"And I'm really excited about using this as a platform for him to go further in his career like the drivers have in in the past.”

The addition of Bates makes for a combination of two of the most legendary names in Australian motorsport, with the 21-year-old being the nephew of Australian Rally Champion Neal Bates, and cousin to current ARC stars Harry and Lewis.

The Canberran currently sits sixth in the Super2 standings having switched from Walkinshaw Andretti United to Eggleston Motorsport in the off-season, and is preparing for a busy end to his 2025 season.

Bates will complete a test day at Queensland Raceway following Townsville before making his Supercars debut at Queensland Raceway, where the field will grow to 26 following last week's confirmation of Cameron Crick's return in Matt Stone Racing's #35 Camaro.

“It’s been a long-anticipated wait, but it's definitely worth the wait. The second half of the year is going to be extremely exciting for the whole team.

"I'm very excited to represent Supercheap Auto and Triple Eight as we go into the Enduro season and a solo Wildcard appearance.

"The car looks awesome as always, and it’s exciting to see how much effort Supercheap Auto put into these launch events, it really is second to none for a smaller wildcard program such as this one.”

"It's obviously an extremely exciting opportunity for me. I don't think I’ve ever prepared as much as I have to be ready. The Triple Eight crew have been super welcoming at the workshop, and the Supercheap Auto team have been so awesome in getting me involved in everything.

"I am joining one of the most successful teams in Supercars and it’s this program is huge for my development – let alone teaming up with a guy like Craig Lowndes. It’s truly a dream come true, bring it on!”

2025 is fifth year Triple Eight have run their Supercheap Auto-backed wildcard, with Russell Ingall making a one-off comeback to pair with Broc Feeney at Bathurst in 2021, a day after the then-teenager secured his Super2 crown.

Managing Director, Triple Eight Race Engineering, Jamie Whincup added: “We're excited for the fifth year of the Wildcard campaign. We're really proud of what we've been able to achieve with the Supercheap Auto Wildcard program to date.

“We've continued the trend of having an established driver with an up-and-coming rookie, and I recognized that Zach was one of those up and comers and pushed hard for him to be in the car this year.

“We have got some of the best crew in the entire field with the Wildcard program in Ty Freele and Wes McDougall who both understand how to win and have shown that for a long period of time.

"A great crew, paired again with Craig Lowndes, who we know always rises to the occasion. So, there's no excuses - we'll give it absolutely everything it deserves.”

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship continues at the NTI Townsville 500 from July 11-13. Tickets for the event are on sale now.