Touring Car Masters stalwart and six-time Series champion John Bowe has confirmed this year’s season will be his last in the category.
 
While highlighting this announcement was not a retirement from motorsport events more broadly, Bowe has today confirmed 2023 would be the final season campaign in the Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters Series.
 
With an impressive resume in TCM, combined with his decades of achievements across the sport, Bowe will leave a lasting legacy on the popular category.
 
“I love Touring Car Masters. It has been and continues to be a very important part of my life, both in motorsport and beyond that,” Bowe said.
 
“I have spoken before about how important it was to go back to racing following my retirement from Supercars in 2007 and it was TCM that filled that hole in my life for me. I’ve had an incredible time, made many new friends and been able to compete with many old ones along the way.
 
“The racing is sensational, the cars are great to drive and the competition is fantastic but the vibe in the paddock is the best thing about it. It’s great fun car racing. Everyone is enthusiastic and the fans love the category which makes it all the better to turn up at each round knowing you’re putting on a show people enjoy watching.
 
“This year felt like the right time to step back from the full-time campaign and have a look at some other things I want to do in motorsport.”



Bowe outlined some of those other options that await, with more expected to be confirmed in the coming months.
 
“I’ll go racing with my mate Joe (Calleja) in historic racing, do some endurance races I enjoy like the Bathurst 6 Hour and other bits and pieces,” Bowe added.
 
“I’m not retiring - I probably won’t ever retire. It’s just ‘ciao for now’ from TCM in a sense of competing in every round.
 
“I’m not ruling out more racing in the category: If someone throws me the keys to a car for a round here or there I’d find it impossible to say no.
 
“I’m really looking forward to the season ahead to say thanks to the fans, the fellow racers, the sponsors, the supporters, and everyone who has supported my 15-odd years in the category.
 
“Starting in Tasmania and at Symmons Plains, the place where I started watching racing as a kid, will be especially special and I hope everyone gets out to that event in February.
 
“I really want to say thank you to all the people who have supported my time in the category, and my racing in general. It’s been a fantastic and very important part of my life.
 
“I hope all the fans and long time followers and friends come to as many rounds they can in 2023 and come and say Hello and ‘Ciao for now’.”
 
The Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters Series gets underway as part of AWC Race Tasmania, the opening round of the SpeedSeries on 24-26 February at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.

Tickets for the event are available at motorsporttickets.com.au.