'Big change': Supercars icon locks in plans for 2026
Lowndes confirmed in March that 2025 would mark the final year of his two-decade partnership with Ford-bound Triple Eight.
The veteran has now signed a two-year deal with Team 18, the outfit that General Motors selected to replace Triple Eight as its Supercars homologation team.
The 51-year-old will spearhead the Chevrolet Camaro wildcard entry at Supercars endurance races from 2026, mentoring a young rookie driver.
Lowndes has competed in a staggering 31 editions of the Bathurst 1000, having won the famed race on seven occasions.
"Joining Team 18 was the right move for me, being the new homologation team and my strong relationship with GM," Lowndes said in a statement.
"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.
"It's an exciting time ahead ... 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."
Team 18 owner Charlie Schwerkolt described the recruitment of Lowndes, who joins David Reynolds and Anton De Pasquale at the Melbourne-based team, as "an incredible honour".
"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," Schwerkolt said.
"We'll be throwing everything at this program.
"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."
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