Motorsport: Drama for Triple Eight ahead of Pukekohe round

Craig Lowndes speaks with his engineer Ludo Lacroix at the Clipsal 500. Photo / Getty Images

Triple Eight Racing has made the snap decision to bench Craig Lowndes' engineer Ludo Lacroix for this week's ITM Auckland SuperSprint at Pukekohe Park Raceway.

Lacroix has confirmed he will make the move to DJR Team Penske in 2017 but Triple Eight have opted to replace him with John McGregor at Pukekohe. McGregor had worked alongside Lacroix this season and looms as the logical choice to replace the Frenchman next year.

Lowndes is third in the championship and will be hoping to hold off Volvo's Scott McLaughlin over the final two rounds to ensure Triple Eight gets a 1-2-3 finish - the first to achieve the mark. Stablemates Shane van Gisbergen and Jamie Whincup will battle for the title with Kiwi van Gisbergen holding a 148-point lead.

The Pukekohe round sees four 100km races without pit stops or much tyre strategy thus eliminating a little of the impact an engineer can have.