CHAMPION Supercars driver Craig Lowndes has announced his retirement.

The Australian racing legend confirmed the news on Friday morning in Townsville.

The Triple Eight racer retires aged 44 with three championships and 106 race wins to his name.

Thank you to all that have stood by me during my career, personally and

professionally. But ultimately, you the fans are the backbone of our great

sport and the reason I've pulled my helmet on every race weekend, so to you THANK YOU. :grinning::+1:https://t.co/ndelrx7S4k pic.twitter.com/qArT6FDk4w — Craig Lowndes (@craiglowndes888) July 6, 2018

This is the hardest decision that myself and my team have had to make,” Lowndes said.

“It’s the right time.”

“Ultimately, the fans are the backbone of our great sport and the reason I’ve pulled my helmet on every race weekend, so to them, thank you,” the veteran driver said in a statement.

The end of an era. Source: News Corp Australia

Lowndes’ crowning achievement is his dominance at Mount Panorama, where he has won the Bathurst 1000 an incredible six times.

Lowndes won three series in four years with 1996, 1998 and 1999 and enjoyed a resurgance in the mid-2000s when he won four Bathurst races in five years.

Lowndes won the Peter Brock Trophy in 2006 just weeks after the death of his mentor and the King of the Mountain.

Craig Lowndes with his mentor, The King of the Mountain, Peter Brock in 1997. Source: News Corp Australia

“Because of the nature of the race and the emotion going in with Brock, that race stands out for me as the all-time, no doubt about that,” Lowndes said.

“That was the most emotional I have ever been before or during a race.

“I spoke to myself, I spoke to Peter. He was there.”

Lowndes still has a contract with Triple Eight Race Engineering for a further 18 months but said he’d been in discussions over his future with team principal Roland Dane for months.

Lowndes and Skaife -- two of the modern greats. Source: Supplied

DJ on Craig Lowndes' retirement announcement:

"On-track we have always been fierce rivals, but off-track you've been nothing but a gentleman, and a mate. Well done on a stellar career, lasting over two decades at the top of a tough sport. All the best for the future."#VASC pic.twitter.com/g5NSp4kPUa — Shell V-Power Racing (@DJRTeamPenske) July 6, 2018

He will retire at the end of the 2018 Supercars championship season. The Newcastle 500 in November will be his final race as a full-time driver.

He’ll now stay with Triple Eight as an endurance co-driver from 2019 onwards as well as joining Supercars television broadcast team.

- with AAP