Supercars 2024: Former series champion Mark Winterbottom makes call on his place on the grid for 2025

Two months after the shock of losing his Supercars seat, former series champion Mark Winterbottom has made a call on his racing future for 2025.

Supercars veteran Mark Winterbottom will turn his attention to landing a plum co-driver role in 2025 after confirming he will not be on the grid full-time next year.

The former series champion shied away from using the word retirement in the off chance an opportunity arises in 2026 but he is “realistic” this season will be his last as a full-time driver.

Winterbottom, 43, was on the wrong end of a silly-season bombshell in August when it was announced Anton De Pasquale would replace him at Team 18 next year.

The vacant seats on the Supercars grid have since been snapped up, which has left the 2015 series champion with few options.

Only Brad Jones Racing has not confirmed its plans for Jaxon Evans and Macauley Jones but Brad Jones reiterated at the Bathurst 1000 that he did not expect any changes to his driver line-up next year.

“I’m not going to be racing next year full-time,” an emotional Winterbottom said before this weekend’s penultimate round on the Gold Coast.

Mark Winterbottom has confirmed he will not be on the Supercars grid as a full-time driver next year. Picture: Getty Images

“We’ve made the decision and it’s hard to do after 21 years.

“It’s not really retiring but at the same time it’s very, very unlikely that you would be back in it full-time again.

“Once you’re out of it, it’s very hard to get back in.

“I still love the sport, it’s not like I’m not enjoying the sport. I still love it more than ever.

“To let it go is tough. I’m not sure what the future holds.

“There is not any position there at the moment so you’re just holding on to something … you have to move forward at some stage.

“You have to see how it goes next year and what you miss and if there are options but when you are out a year – and at the age you are – you have to be realistic about it.

“So it’s probably the last full-time (season).”

Winterbottom said he planned to be back for the endurance races next year, for which he will become hot property on the co-driver market.

Mark Winterbottom after winning at the Darwin Triple Crown last year. Picture: Getty Images

He has already fielded many inquiries about his services as a co-driver from up and down pit lane but has not weighed up his options.

“I’ll be back as a co-driver and doing the best job I can to make sure I’m in a position to win those races,” Winterbottom said.

“I’ll be making sure wherever I am it is a good opportunity to win the two big races that I can contribute to and have a good role.

“It has been nice to have different people approach you but until you can switch off from what you are doing, it’s so hard to engage in other things.

“That’s what I said to everyone, ‘Just let me work out if I keep chasing the full-time dream’ without messing people around.

“We will look at that probably next week and start going all over that stuff.

“Now you look at different options and opportunities and what’s out there but it’s all still really raw.

“I’d also look at trying to help give back to the sport, not walk away from it and try and help and give back and still be involved in some way.”

Winterbottom made his debut in Supercars in 2003 and is a household name and fan favourite.

Mark Winterbottom and Steve Richards after winning the 2013 Bathurst 1000. Picture: Getty Images

He has claimed the two biggest prizes in Supercars as a title winner and in the Bathurst 1000 in 2013 alongside Steve Richards.

Winterbottom is also fourth on the all-time list for podium finishes with 120.

“I always wanted to win a championship,” he said.

“That was always more important to me than Bathurst, to have the No.1 on the door, and thankfully I got to win that. Bathurst as well.

“But I think being in the sport for 21 years in a cutthroat, super-competitive sport is an achievement I am really proud of, too.

“Everyone looks at results and achievements but some of the best things I have had are people wearing my gear and spending the money to support you and have your back no matter what.”

Mark Winterbottom says he still loves Supercars. Picture: Tim Hunter.

With two rounds remaining in the Supercars season on the Gold Coast and in Adelaide, Winterbottom is determined to finish on a high.

He has finished on the podium twice this year and is 15th in the Supercars standings, just behind teammate David Reynolds.

“I always wanted to go out a winner, regardless of whenever it was,” he said.

“If I could win the last one, that would be the fairytale story.

“Regardless, I had two podiums in my last year at a team that doesn’t get many podiums, so at least I have had success in my last year.

“Then I can reflect on all the good stuff I’ve had and hopefully go out on a high at Adelaide.

“I am going to miss it and I think round one is going to be really hard to watch and not be involved.

“When round one is on and watching the cars blaze around and not have your name on the time screen, it will take a bit to get over.”

Originally published as Supercars 2024: Former series champion Mark Winterbottom makes call on his place on the grid for 2025