Triple Eight Race Engineering technical director Ludo Lacroix is set to depart the Supercars squad at the end of the current season.
Lacroix began working for Triple Eight in the United Kingdom in 1999 and was a founding member of the company’s Supercars activities four years later.
The Frenchman also returned to race engineering duties this year, teaming with Craig Lowndes following the squad’s expansion to three cars.
Triple Eight has confirmed that Lacroix will continue to work alongside fellow engineer John McGregor on Lowndes’ car for the remainder of the 2016 season.
Lacroix’s time at Triple Eight also saw him take a key role in the design of the category’s Car of the Future platform ahead of its introduction in 2013.
Renowned as an aerodynamics expert, Lacroix also headed up the design of the Ford Falcon BF (2007), FG (2009) and Holden Commodore VF (2013) body kits.
His departure comes during the early stages of development for the next-generation Holden Commodore Supercar which will debut in 2018.
Triple Eight has meanwhile also announced the appointment of former Williams and McLaren Formula 1 technical chief Sam Michael to a part-time position.
Michael returned to Australia at the end of 2014 following 21 seasons in F1 that also included stints with Lotus and Jordan.
A Triple Eight statement says that Michael will help develop its engineering group, which is set to be bolstered by further new players ahead of 2017.
“Taking a part-time mentoring role with the Team, Michael joins Triple Eight as the team rolls out a number of new engineering appointments over the next three months,” read the statement.
“Michael has enjoyed a highly successful, 21-year career in Formula 1 leading engineering teams at both Williams and McLaren, before returning to Australia at the end of 2014.
“Triple Eight is thrilled to welcome him into the team and looks forward to further developing the foremost engineering group in the Supercars category with his guidance.”
Earlier this year Michael joined a revamped Australian Institute for Motor Sport Safety board.
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