Australian MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has quashed speculation he will race V8 Supercars next year after he retires.
Stoner’s last appearance in Australia will happen when he runs his final race at home in the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island in October. Earlier this year Stoner stated that his loss of passion for racing and a desire for a family life with his wife and child were the main reasons for his retirement.
“Am I going to race V8s next year? No, I’m going to stay home and watch my little girl grow up for a while, I want to enjoy myself and be free….Number one, I will enjoy my family and not have to stress about the next race” Stoner said in an interview recently.
There had been a great deal of speculation lately that Stoner was going into V8 racing, by joining the 888 Team of Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup, but this has also been denied by Roland Dane the Vodafone Holden team boss. Dane confirmed he had no plans to expand his team as his championship leading drivers of Lowndes and Whincup still contracted to 888 till the end of next year.
Rumours that Stoner would spend $2.5 million for a V8 Supercar franchise and run his own team with a new to the Supercar series V8 manufacturer next year were also untrue.