Five-time Touring Car Champion Mark Skaife has confirmed he will hang up his helmet at the end of the year – but it probably won’t be for the last time.

Amongst family, friends and media, the Holden Racing Team part-owner and driver today announced that his days as a full-time driver are over, but his huge fan base may see him drive in the enduros next year.

“This is just a step back from full-time driving,” Skaife, who is also a five-time Bathurst Champion, said.

“It’s a step that I’ve obviously thought about a lot and I don’t really want to discount (an enduro drive).

“I’m sure in my role with HRT there will be times next year that I’ll have itchy feet and I’ll want to jump aboard and under that scenario anything I can help with I will certainly do, but in terms of an endurance drive at this point I haven’t made any decisions.”

The 41-year-old said his decision to retire, which he started planning early last year, was hard but that his heart was not in it anymore.

“For those who understand me and recognise my passion for driving cars and also the love of the competition they probably would understand how difficult this is for me,” he said.

“I’ve got to say that I’m not enjoying it as much as I was; I’m probably turned on more by walking into boardrooms and making sponsor presentations or putting in a business case together.”

Skaife said as part of an agreement with Tom Walkinshaw, he will become the Director of Racing for HRT.

The retirement announcement was at times emotion-charged as the face of Holden struggled to hold back his tears.

“It’s such a personal thing; there’s so much about being in the car by yourself and driving a car at a level that I can’t describe.

“It’s one that you do with incredible passion; you do it with incredible commitment and I can honestly that my commitment is not there at the level that it has been, so as a consequence of that I am making this decision,” he said as his voice broke up.

V8 Supercars Australia Chairman Tony Cochrane made a speech at the announcement, labelling Skaife as “probably the greatest ambassador the sport’s ever seen”.

Skaife said he “can’t wait” for Oran Park, where he is hoping for a good finish.

“I’m very, very proud of the team; I’m proud of what the Toll HRT team stands for,” he enthused.

“We are the factory team for Holden; we are expected to win and I can assure you with the team that we have, the sponsorship that we have, the support that we have, and the drivers that we have…we will be in good shape moving forward.”

Skaife also revealed that a warts and all biography on his motorsport career was in the pipeline.

Watch Mark Skaife video highlights on BigPond TV

Author:Briar Gunther
Source:BigPond Sport - copyright

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