Former Supercars star Craig Lowndes looks like departing Triple Eight at the end of the year, maintaining his relationship with GM as Triple Eight switches to Ford from the start of next year.
The industry has been looking for clues to the future of the multiple champion, especially the Bathurst wildcard entry that he has spearheaded for four years so far, which has been the subject of an off-track tug-of-war.
The latest indication of Lowndes’ future involves the company, which has sponsored the Triple Eight Wildcard throughout.
Representatives of Supercheap Auto have been observed visiting Chevrolet Supercars teams recently. The obvious conclusion is that the company is seeking a team equipped to take over from Triple Eight in running a Supercheap Auto Chevrolet wildcard for Lowndes and whichever young hopeful is selected to co-drive the car with him for the 2026 endurance events. Thus, Lowndes is recommitting to GM.
There is no indication yet whether a conclusion has been reached—there are five teams currently running Chevrolets other than Triple Eight, any one of which could potentially run the wildcard. They also make up a pool (plus Ford teams) from which a second Toyota team will be selected, which may reduce the options to four.
An announcement could come at any time, but the evidence suggests that Lowndes will be staying with The General.
GM Homologation to be centralised?
At the same time, GM’s poaching this week of Triple Eight technical director Jeromy Moore to take up a role with GM points towards centralised control of the GM (Camaro and its successor) homologation process, with work shared among its teams on a cooperative basis.
While nominating a team to formally represent the manufacturer at homologation meetings may be necessary, there is nothing to stop ‘The General’ from adopting a more collective approach.
GM’s reaction to the Triple Eight/Ford ‘engagement’ (official wedding January 1, 2026!) has been swift, with initial suggestions from Triple Eight that its current (GM) engine supplier might move across to Ford with them – and even wilder suggestions that KRE might oversee both Ford and GM engine development and supply (there were even more bizarre suggestions that Toyota might join in to make a three-way on-stop-shop deal …) dismissed quickly by the Chevrolet teams.
GM has quickly locked up KRE to an exclusive deal, which is made all the more obvious when one remembers that a significant element of KRE’s business centres around Sprintcar V8 (GM) engines …
This leaves Ford and Triple Eight needing to reassess their engine options—from remaining with the current DJR-owned Motorsport Powertrains to potentially buying Motorsport Powertrains out and having someone else run it to starting from scratch with other options.
For the most detailed coverage on the Triple Eight to Ford move, check out our coverage in Auto Action Digital:
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