‘Relief’: Winterbottom’s emotional farewell to full time racing celebrated with guard of honour

An emotional Mark Winterbottom has revealed his ‘relief’ to sign off from his decorated full time racing career, and received a pit lane guard of honour to celebrate the end of a chapter.

It should have been a race to savour, but an emotional Mark Winterbottom admitted he could not wait for his final race as a full-time Supercars driver to finish.

The driver affectionately known as ‘Frosty’ signed off from his decorated career as a full-time racer after finishing 20th in a tough day at the Adelaide 500 on Sunday.

Winterbottom will switch to co-driver mode from next year, tipped to make a storybook return to Tickford Racing where he made his name to partner Cam Waters in 2025.

The former series champion was given a parting gift from the stewards, copping a 15-second time penalty for contact with Tim Slade - also in his last race as a full-time driver - early in the race on the streets of Adelaide.

Mark Winterbottom had a feeling of relief after the Adelaide 500. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

After an emotional build-up to the race, Winterbottom admitted there was a feeling of relief that it was over.

“Hopping out of the car, that was a really tough race. I couldn’t wait to get out of it to be honest,” Winterbottom said.

“We weren’t fast enough, just the tyre life was really bad.

“It was a sad way to go out, but at the same time, it is what it is. The last race didn’t determine the person I am and the career that I had.

“Now that I’m finished I can switch off the ego driver stuff that we all have and be an old bloke and watch the old videos of the good old days.”

Winterbottom was given a guard of honour by the teams in pit lane ahead of the race, with all the crews standing out the front of the garages and applauding him as he walked along and was congratulated by his fellow drivers.

The 43-year-old said he had been overcome by the gesture.

“It was quite emotional walking down pit lane, that got me,” Winterbottom said.

“We are all fierce competitors and then seeing that, that is just the ultimate respect, which is really nice.”

Winterbottom said the end of this chapter in his racing career hit him hard when he saw his family and friends after the race.

“Seeing the team and seeing my family and my sister and (wife) Renee and the kids and my best mate, it’s sad,” Winterbottom said.

‘“I’m sad because the way it ended and everything was not how I wanted it to end.

“But the best part is, even this year I still got two podiums in a team that got two podiums, so I’m proud of some of the stuff we did.”

While giving little away about an impending co-driver announcement, Winterbottom said he was excited about where he was going to land.

“I’m looking forward to the car next year that I’m going to be jumping in and it’s really fast and I think I can do a good job there,” he said.

Winterbottom was the 2015 V8 Supercars Champion. Picture: Supplied

“Then you’ll feel good again. A car can determine your position a lot in this sport.

“I’m really excited for that.”

Winterbottom found himself on the wrong end of a silly season bombshell in August when it was announced he would be replaced at Team 18 by Anton De Pasquale in 2025.

After making his debut in Supercars in 2003, he remains a household name and fan favourite in the sport.

Winterbottom has claimed the two biggest prizes in Supercars as the 2015 title winner and the Bathurst 1000 in 2013 alongside Steve Richards.

Originally published as ‘Relief’: Winterbottom’s emotional farewell to full time racing celebrated with guard of honour