Bridgestone Australia Pays Tribute to Mark Skaife

The management of Bridgestone Australia Ltd Group has paid tribute to Mark Skaife, who took the wheel for his final V8 Supercar race on the weekend of December 6–7 after announcing his retirement from the sport earlier in 2008. Skaife’s achievements, comment Bridgestone, make him one of the sport’s greatest champions.

During his racing career Skaife gained a record-equalling five Australian Touring Car/V8 Supercar Championships, a number only equalled by Ian Geoghegan and Dick Johnson. He also won five Bathurst 1000 titles and a record 40 Australian Touring Car/V8 Supercar Championship round victories. Skaife also won three consecutive Australian Drivers’ Championships (1991-93).

Bridgestone has been behind Skaife for much of his career, including its current role as sponsor of the Holden Racing Team cars driven by Skaife and reigning champion Garth Tander. “Mark has been a fantastic ambassador for Bridgestone over the years and has brought a great deal of enjoyment and pride to the Bridgestone network,” said Shawn Hara, chairman and CEO of Bridgestone Australia Ltd. “On behalf of everyone at Bridgestone, I would like to congratulate Mark on an outstanding career and I’m sure he will continue to be just as successful in his life after racing.”

Skaife’s final race for HRT at Sydney’s Oran Park Raceway was held after an emotional lap of honour, with both Holden and Ford fans rising to pay tribute. Skaife later admitted to a few tears on the warm-up lap, before coming home in a solid 12th place in the third and last race of the weekend.