Triple Eight presents departing Lowndes with special gift

Triple Eight Race Engineering has presented departing driver Craig Lowndes with a special parting gift in Bathurst.

Lowndes will make his 458th and final Supercars race start with Triple Eight at this weekend’s Repco Bathurst 1000.

The 51-year-old will move to Team 18 next season, Lowndes opting to remain with General Motors as Triple Eight shifts to Ford.

The Supercars Hall of Famer first joined the team in 2005, and has since forged one of the longest and most successful partnerships in Australian sport.

Across 20 years with Triple Eight, Lowndes won 58 races, including six Bathurst 1000s, and claimed 130 podiums and 29 pole positions.

Ahead of track action on Thursday, the team presented Lowndes with a special bonnet, recognising the statistics and team names he recorded over his tenure.

The entire at-track team across the primary and wildcard crews were on hand, with Triple Eight staff also dialling in from the team’s Brisbane base.

"Extremely proud to celebrate twenty one years of Craig Lowndes and Triple Eight ahead of his last Bathurst 1000 with the team,” the team posted to social media.

"The whole crew joined us in the garage here at Bathurst for the celebration and presentation of this commemorative bonnet, including everyone back home in Brisbane via video call.

"One thing left to do, attack The Mountain one more time together on Sunday.”

Speaking to media on Wednesday, Lowndes was excited to get his 32nd Bathurst appearance underway, and welcomed the underdog tag.

"I've been lucky enough that in 32 attempts now we've had seven victories and a number of close calls," Lowndes said.

"And really for me, it's been a great journey throughout. It took me 10 years to get my second. So it shows how hard it is."

Track action in Bathurst commences on Thursday.