Triple Eight Reintroduces Car Number 888 for Will Brown, Craig Lowndes Adopts Number 15
Triple Eight Race Engineering has confirmed the return of car number 888 to full-time competition for driver Will Brown. Concurrently, Craig Lowndes, a long-standing associate of number 888, will utilize car number 15 for his Supercheap Auto wildcard entries with Team 18. Both number changes coincide with significant team transitions and driver alignments within the Supercars Championship.
Triple Eight Reintroduces Car Number 888
Car number 888 is scheduled to return to full-time Supercars racing duties for the first time since Craig Lowndes' full-time retirement at the end of the 2018 season. Will Brown will adopt the number for the upcoming season. Brown competed with number 87 during the 2024 championship year and will not use the number 1 plate, which has been assigned to Walkinshaw Andretti United's Chaz Mostert.
The reintroduction of number 888 for Brown aligns with Lowndes' departure from Triple Eight after 21 years. The number was first allocated to Lowndes upon joining Triple Eight in 2005 and was used during six of his seven Bathurst 1000 victories. Since 2018, its use has been primarily limited to Lowndes' co-driving and wildcard appearances. Lowndes last utilized number 888 during a ride day at Sandown in the previous year.
Brown reportedly sought Lowndes' permission to use the number, which is team-owned.
Lowndes acknowledged the number's significance to the team and its association with workshop success.
Triple Eight, under its Red Bull Ampol Racing banner, is transitioning to Ford for the upcoming season. The team is scheduled to launch its 2026 livery in Geelong on Saturday, February 7, with initial track laps for its new Mustangs planned for February 9 and 10.
Craig Lowndes to Race with Car Number 15
Craig Lowndes will utilize car number 15 for his Supercheap Auto wildcard entry with Team 18. This number holds historical significance for Lowndes, as he used it when he won the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC) on debut 30 years ago. Lowndes secured his initial championship with the Holden Racing Team, which had begun using number 15 in 1992. The number was designated as 015 for Lowndes' Bathurst debut in 1994, later reverting to 15 before the 1996 season.
Following a period racing in Europe in 1997, Lowndes returned to the Holden Racing Team and secured a second championship with number 15 in 1998, subsequently racing with the number 1 plate as champion.
Lowndes departed the Holden Racing Team at the end of 2000 and was associated with number 888 for 21 years during his tenure with Triple Eight Race Engineering. His decision to remain aligned with General Motors following Triple Eight's transition to Ford led to his move to Team 18 and the selection of number 15, coinciding with the anniversary of his 1996 debut.
Lowndes commented that number 15 was his primary consideration, marking the commencement of his Supercars career.
Team 18 owner Charlie Schwerkolt affirmed the historical significance of number 15 in Lowndes' career. Lowndes is scheduled to co-drive the Team 18 Camaro, bearing number 15, with Bayley Hall during The Bend 500 and Bathurst 1000 events. Car number 15 last appeared in 2020 with Rick Kelly, who achieved a Bathurst 1000 win in 2004 and a championship in 2006 using the number.
Additional Number Announcements
In related news, Dick Johnson Racing recently announced that Brodie Kostecki will utilize its well-known car number 17 for the upcoming season.