Winterbottom opens up on career announcement, future

Mark Winterbottom has opened up on his decision to step away from full-time Supercars driving at a media call on the Gold Coast today.

Having been let go by Team 18 after Tasmania, the 2015 Supercars champion announced this morning that he would not be pursuing a full-time opportunity in the championship next year, despite links to Brad Jones Racing.

It will bring to an end a 21-year unbroken stint for Winterbottom as a full-timer across stints at Larkham Motorsport (2004-2005), Tickford Racing (2006-2018), and Team 18 (2019-2024).

Speaking to media on set-up day at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, the 2013 Bathurst winner said that he has been lucky to tick off several milestones in an illustrious career.

"I've been lucky to be in this sport for 21 years," he said.

"As a young boy everything I wanted to do was race Supercars, so to do it for 21 years has been great and to achieve some of the things we've achieved has been awesome as well.

"I wanted to get [the announcement] out so I could enjoy the last few rounds and see all of the great sponsors and supporters out there who have sponsored me my whole career, just to say goodbye on my terms and the way I wanted it to be done.

Winterbottom also addressed the speculation surrounding a potential full-time lifeline for 2025, saying that nothing had been formally offered to him as a full-time deal.

"There's not options until you're on the market, then things happen, but for me nothing was confirmed or in cement, so there's a point where you've got to be realistic on everything, so I'm not sure if there was [a full-time option]," he said.

"But for me, unless something is done it's not really an option is it? You've just got to look forward and move to the next thing."

The two-time Sandown 500 winner is now set to become one of the most hotly pursued co-driver signings for next years enduros at The Bend and Bathurst, with a majority of co-driver roles on the 2025 grid up for grabs.

However, the 43-year-old maintains that his focus is on finishing his stint at Team 18 in the strongest possible form before he looks at all his options for next year's Enduro Cup.

"It's been so emotional to let go of it, so we're trying to enjoy the moment, have fun with the last couple of rounds, and then work out what we're doing next year," Winterbottom said.

Winterbottom has also affirmed that whilst a full-time comeback in 2026 is not on the cards for him at the moment, should the right opportunity present itself.

Although he is hunting for a front-running co-driver in 2025, the 39-time Supercars race winner knows that a starring role in next year's enduros could give him an extended full-time career.

"If there was a good option you'd consider it, but you don't see many people other than Will Davison and Lee Holdsworth who have done it," he said.

"This takes so much of your life this sport, emotionally, physically, and you do it because you love it, and I'm not sure what happens when you step away, I haven't been in that position before.

"It's rare to see someone step out and get back, but in a good car at the enduros, it's the best audition. Guys go there who are written off, they go and win the two biggest races and all of a sudden they're back in the frame.

"You never say never, but at the moment it's not really on the cards for me."

Should he start the final four races of the year, Winterbottom's full-time career will end at 645 race starts spanning back to the 2003 Sandown 500.

Winterbottom currently has 39 career wins, 36 pole positions, and 120 podiums, two of which have come this season at Albert Park and Darwin, and is currently 15th in the Repco Supercars Championship.

On-track action begins tomorrow at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, with Practice 1 beginning at 1:30pm AEDT/12:30pm AEST. Tickets for the event are on sale now.