Triple Eight noncommittal on wildcard after Lowndes exit
Triple Eight noncommittal on wildcard after Craig Lowndes exit
Lowndes confirmed at Team 18 on two-year wildcard deal
Triple Eight has run enduro wildcard since 2021
The future of Triple Eight Race Engineering's wildcard programme is unclear after Craig Lowndes's next move was confirmed.
Lowndes has been followed to Team 18 by Supercheap Auto, which has carried naming rights of Triple Eight's wildcard since 2021. Lowndes, meanwhile, has steered the wildcard since 2022.
Triple Eight is busy trying to win the 2025 championship and prepare for its future as a Ford team, with team boss Jamie Whincup previously stating Ford engines and wind tunnel testing were firmly on his radar.
When asked about Triple Eight's 2026 wildcard plans, Whincup said: “Unconfirmed at this stage.
“We don’t have a commitment to run a wildcard in 2026 onwards. My guess is we probably won’t, but that’s still to be confirmed.”
Triple Eight's wildcard programme has been integral is handing Bathurst starts to Broc Feeney, Declan Fraser, Zane Goddard and Cooper Murray.
Lowndes and Murray claimed the wildcard's best finish of fifth at last year's Sandown 500. Lowndes and Fraser, meanwhile, finished eighth at the 2022 Bathurst 1000.
This year, Lowndes will race with Zach Bates, who starred in Ipswich last weekend. The Canberran qualified third and went fifth in Sunday's Shootout, before finishing 21st after being roughed up by both Matt Stone Racing drivers.
“We’ve been really proud of the wildcard program,” Whincup said.
“We’ve been proud of it the last three or four years, so fingers crossed this year can be the same.”
The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship continues at the AirTouch 500 at The Bend from September 12-14, and will open the Enduro Cup. Tickets are on sale now.
