Craig Lowndes Will Not Compete in the Bathurst 12 Hour
In a surprising turn of events, the two-time champion of the highly esteemed GT3 race is set to miss out on participating in this year’s Bathurst 12 Hour. The full entry list, which will be released later today, will not include his name.
It was revealed last September that Chaz Mostert would be stepping into the shoes of the 51-year-old Lowndes at Scott Taylor Motorsport, taking over the driving duties of the Mercedes-AMG vehicle. This shift has generated quite a buzz among fans and commentators alike (https://speedcafe.com/bathurst-12-hour-news-2026-chaz-mostert-stm-mercedes-craig-lowndes-cam-waters-thomas-randle-driver-line-up/).
Lowndes expressed his disappointment in an interview with Speedcafe, stating that he had hoped to be a part of this iconic event. “I would have loved to have been part of it; it was just that this year there was no real seat for me, so I’ll be at home watching it on TV,” he reflected.
He acknowledged Chaz Mostert’s appointment, wishing the team success: “Scotty made a decision to put Chaz in the car. Hopefully, they go really well.” Despite his efforts to explore opportunities with the Johor Corvette line-up (https://speedcafe.com/motorsport-news-bathurst-12-hour-corvette-drivers/), he ultimately decided against pursuing any new drives this year, as he anticipated a busy schedule with Team 18 and other commitments.
Lowndes has a rich history with the Bathurst 12 Hour, having made his debut in the 1994 race where he achieved a class victory driving a Nissan Pulsar SSS. This initial experience laid the groundwork for his future successes, particularly during the October Great Race. He played a pivotal role in enhancing the reputation of the Bathurst 12 Hour following its transition to GT3 regulations in 2011, initially racing factory-supported Audi R8s.
His outright victories came in 2014 and 2017 while driving for Triple Eight-assisted Maranello Motorsport Ferrari teams, the first of which concluded in a nail-biting finish with Lowndes behind the wheel. In recent years, he has participated in a variety of vehicles from brands like McLaren, Porsche, and Mercedes, although his previous four-year stint with STM ended on a low note following an early crash in the 2025 event.
Despite this setback, Lowndes remains optimistic about his future in motorsport, revealing his desire to return to the Bathurst race in 2027. “I’d love to get back there next year, that’s for sure,” he stated enthusiastically. “It’s a race I enjoy; I love that style of racing and always have.”
Looking ahead, Will Brown is poised to carry on Craig Lowndes’ legacy by driving with the iconic #888 (https://speedcafe.com/supercars-news-2026-will-brown-craig-lowndes-triple-eight-number-888-red-bull-ford/).
Lowndes is also scheduled to make his return to Bathurst for the Great Race in October, where he will co-drive as part of the wildcard entry managed by Team 18. Additionally, he will participate in races at The Bend in September. While he has enjoyed various outings in the TA2 Muscle Car Series and the Finke Desert Race due to his connections with GM, Lowndes currently does not have any concrete competition plans outside of Supercars.
Fans can expect to see him continue his role as a commentator for Supercars on television this season (https://speedcafe.com/supercars-news-2026-tv-commentary-changes-neil-crompton-mark-skaife-details-new-commentators-explained/), with the new season kicking off at the Sydney 500 on February 20-22.
