Will Brown will adopt the iconic #888 for the 2026 Supercars season, marking a major milestone for Triple Eight Race Engineering as the celebrated number returns to full-time competition. The handover follows Craig Lowndes’ departure and the end of his 21-year association with the team, embedding the will brown iconic #888 legacy deeper into Supercars history.
The Return of #888 to Full-Time Racing
Triple Eight announced that their legendary #888 will be reinstated for full-time competition for the first time since 2018, when Craig Lowndes concluded his full-time driving career. This move coincides with Lowndes’ exit from the team, which comes as the entire Supercheap Auto wildcard program transitions to Team 18 and Triple Eight undertakes a significant switch to Ford. The #888 has a storied past, most notably with Lowndes, who used the number for six of his remarkable seven Bathurst 1000 victories since joining Triple Eight in 2005.
Since 2018, #888 made appearances mainly for special occasions, with Lowndes at the helm for co-driving stints and wildcard entries. The number has now been entrusted to Will Brown, who previously raced with #87 during his 2024 championship-winning campaign. Brown’s switch to #888 comes as he relinquishes the #1 plate, passed on to Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Chaz Mostert for the upcoming season.
Lowndes Endorses Brown to Continue a Proud Legacy
Lowndes had the honor of using #888 for the final time during a ride event at Sandown last year. As the number is team property, Brown approached Lowndes to seek his blessing for carrying it into a new chapter. Lowndes’ attachment to the number is deep-rooted, stating:
“This number is iconic to the team. In motor racing and in sports sponsors come and go, liveries change, kits change,”
said Lowndes.
He emphasized the special place #888 occupies at Triple Eight Race Engineering and its long-standing association with the team’s success. Lowndes further reflected:
“When I first arrived I was lucky enough to carry the number and to see the legacy of the number continue on, it’s an iconic number for the sport, and it’s an iconic number for the team, so it’s going to be really great to see the car running around with that number on the side.”
The champion driver predicted that Brown would rise to the challenge after a competitive but tough 2025 season, where Broc Feeney often had the upper hand. Lowndes shared his confidence in Brown, noting:
“I know Will pretty well, to have him carry on that legacy, I think that he’ll do it proud,”
added Lowndes.
Highlighting Brown’s credentials and the upcoming changes, he stated:
“I think the new change of manufacturer, the new change of car, the new change of number, it’s all a good fit and I think at the start of the season he’ll come out punching.”
Brown Embraces the Opportunity
Will Brown is eager to race with the #888, fully appreciating its significance in Australian motorsport. Expressing his excitement, Brown said:
“It’s cool to know I’m going into 2026 with such an iconic number on my car,”
he said.
He spoke of the number’s long history and his own journey with the team:
“For me there wasn’t a question mark. I’ve had two great years already with the team – one awesome year with the championship win and one great year last year fighting all the way to Adelaide, so it meant a lot to me to start the conversation about 2026 and my race number.”
Brown’s enthusiasm suggests he’s highly motivated to honor the legacy entrusted to him and continue building on Triple Eight’s winning traditions.
Looking Ahead: A Season of Change for Triple Eight
Red Bull Ampol Racing, Triple Eight’s competition arm, will launch its 2026 livery in Geelong on February 7, ahead of debut runs for their new Mustangs scheduled for February 9 and 10. The revival of #888 marks the second major number announcement this week, as Dick Johnson Racing also named Brodie Kostecki as the recipient of its famed #17 for the upcoming year.
With notable figures like Chaz Mostert and Broc Feeney driving championship ambitions throughout the paddock, and Triple Eight undergoing substantial changes in manufacturer, driver line-up, and team dynamics, anticipation is high for an impactful and competitive 2026 season in Supercars. The will brown iconic #888 storyline will undoubtedly be watched closely as the legacy continues on the track.
