Skaife retires

[Prometheus]

Announced today.

Skaife is among the sport's greatest champions, winning five Bathursts and five Australian touring car championships in a career which started in a Nissan Gazelle in 1987.

The 41-year-old retires with more touring car/V8 round wins than any other driver, taking out 40 of the 211 rounds he has contested.

With fellow V8 champions including Craig Lowndes and Garth Tander looking on, Skaife drew the curtain on his full-time driving career in Melbourne after more than a decade as Holden's highest-profile driver.

Skaife admitted the decision to quit had been difficult, but acknowledged it was the right time to move on.

"Motor racing has been my life for the past 21 years, and as any professional sportsman will attest, if you have a love and passion for what you are doing, then retirement is not something you ever easily consider," Skaife said.

Shame, had many a beer with this guy and in real life he's a really nice guy.

[MENTL1_CHB]

Yep Id hate to say it but after the season hes had it just had to happen.

One hell of a driver if not one of the best.
Its sad to see him go but he was doing more harm than good and itll be better for him to just focus on one thing which will be the best for the team.

Thanks for the Memories

[UnbounD]

Never been a supporter, but you cant be everyones fan.
He cant catch a break at the moment so it probably is a good time to move into another aspect of the sport.
He can replace Larkham has he bugs the BeJesus out of me!

Sad really.

[Sasquatch]

Its sad to see him go... He kinda reminds me of "The intimidator" of you know who that drove in NASCAR. I think his character and his type of aggressive driving will be missed by fans (probably not by the drivers though) and his reputation of dishing it out but never complaining once when handed back to him persona, will be missed.

[Murphy's Law]

Never was a fan but he was one of the best. He will be missed

[Flyboy69]

It was about time, he should have gone a year or two back.