Luke Youlden has called time on his Supercars racing career and will take up a new role through Erebus Motorsport.
Youlden has contested every Supercars enduro campaign since 2000, culminating in a victory at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 alongside David Reynolds at Penrite Racing in 2017.
This year the 41-year-old teamed up with Reynolds for a third campaign which proved to be bittersweet.
A crash in practice at Bathurst hampered the team’s weekend although he played a key role in securing a third at the Vodafone Gold Coast 600.
His total tally includes 57 races with one victory, eight podiums and 29 top 10 finishes.
“After 20 years I have decided to step away from Supercars as a driver,” said Youlden, who has never raced full-time in Supercars.
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“It’s getting increasingly difficult to turn up off the couch and race at the top level and then not race one of these cars for another eight months.
“I’ve done that for 20 years and I think I’ve done a good job, and I’m proud of the fact I have managed to hang around for so long.
“I have the most Bathursts under my belts without having done any sprint rounds so to be able to match the other guys is my badge of honour.
“From day one I knew I had found a home at Erebus and I was never going to drive with anyone else, I’m just stoked I can continue to be a big part of the family and the business moving forward.
“I want to thank Betty and Barry and the entire team for the last three years and obviously ticking that Bathurst box; I’d like to think I was a big part of that win.”
Youlden has been asked by Penrite Racing boss Barry Ryan to stay with the team moving forward.
He will take part at the Erebus Academy Creating Pathways program, a dedicated Young Racing Driver Program that will launch at Norwell in Queensland on December 4.
“What Luke has done for us is incredible, and we all have so much respect for him as a driver and as a person,” Ryan said.
“We’ve always said he is the ‘baseline’ for who we want all of our drivers to be; he’s always organised, respectful, fast, great with fans and media, and most of all a top bloke.
‘’What guys like Luke bring to an organisation is invaluable and the entire team love having him around.
“He is a great support to Dave and Anton and our young drivers as he has walked in their shoes and with the Erebus Academy as well as other initiatives moving forward, Luke will be an integral part of that.”
The team is yet to announce who will replace Youlden in its Pirtek Enduro Cup line-up.
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