Skaife to retire at end of the season

The multiple touring car and Bathurst 1000 champion made the announcement on Wednesday, confirming the end to a touring car career which began in 1987 at the wheel of a Nissan Gazelle.

"I've always admired sportspeople who know when it's time to retire, rather than waiting to be told," explained Skaife.

"Motor racing has been my life for the past 21 years and, as any professional sportsperson will attest, if you have a love and passion for what you are doing, for the competition and being on top of your game, then retirement is not something you ever easily consider.

"But the reality is that you do come to point in your career when you have a decision to make. I'm looking to the future for both myself and the Toll Holden Racing Team, and while this decision ends one phase of my career, I'm confident it will also open doors and exciting new opportunities."

Among those to pay tribute to Skaife's career, particularly the last sixteen years of it for which he has driven for Holden including the last eleven for the Holden Racing Team, was Holden chairman and managing director Mark Reuss.

"Holden's racing program and the sport as a whole is stronger for Mark Skaife's outstanding contribution," he said. "Mark is widely respected for his ability behind the wheel and his leadership role in promoting and developing V8 Supercar racing.

"He is simply one of the Holden greats.

"Everyone at Holden congratulates Mark on an outstanding career and wishes him continued success in the future."

Skaife's decorated career has seen him claim five touring car titles, in 1992 in a Nissan Skyline GT-R and in 1994, 2000, 2001 and 2002 in a Holden Commodore, equalling Dick Johnson's series record. He also holds the record for most round wins with 40 victories.

He has also taken five victories in the Bathurst 1000, in 1991 and 1992 with Jim Richards in the GT-R, and three with Holden: 2001 with Tony Longhurst, 2002 with Jim Richards and 2005 with Todd Kelly.

In recent times, and particularly this season, Skaife's performances have declined, with only one podium finish for the season apart from his win with teammate Garth Tander at the Phillip Island enduro.

His teammate Tander has scored eighteen podiums this year including seven race wins (not including another three wins at the non-championship Albert Park event). Skaife currently is eleventh in the championship, on 1480 points, whilst Tander is third on 2510, just 106 points behind series leader Jamie Whincup.

However, that shared victory at Phillip Island came somewhat despite Skaife, as during his time at the wheel the car fell from fourth to fourteenth before Tander took advantage of weather and safety cars along with some great driving to haul the car to victory.

The season's second enduro at Bathurst ended even worse for Skaife. After the duo recovered ground from a clutch problem at the start thanks to a number of safety cars, Skaife hit the wall at Forrest's Elbow whilst battling for third position and damaged the front of the car, eventually salvaging a twelfth-place finish.