After finally being reunited with Craig Lowndes following a 10-year split, returning V8 supercar driver Mark Skaife is not about to let go easily.
The 42-year-old Skaife will partner Lowndes in the Team Vodafone Holden Commodore in endurance events on this year's circuit – and says he hopes to continue making cameos for the next four to five years.
Skaife and Lowndes were team-mates at Holden for three years before Lowndes switched to Ford in 2001.
Now back with the Lion after almost a decade away, Lowndes will partner two-time V8 supercar champion and fellow Ford defector Jamie Wincup during the championship season while linking with Skaife for the enduro events.
New rules prevent championship co-drivers from teaming up in enduro events, opening the way for the Lowndes-Skaife reunion.
An excited Skaife, who retired from full-time racing in 2008, said: "Craig's been a rival and a team-mate over the years."
"He's probably been my strongest rival in the last 20 years and to be together again after 10 years apart is a fantastic thing."
The five-time Bathurst 1000 winner said his near-success at last year's event – he finished fourth after coming out of semi-retirement - had convinced him to keep returning to the Mountain for many years to come.
"I said when I made my announcement about retiring from full-time driving that I was going to leave the enduros open," he explained.
"After coming back with (Greg) Murphy in 2009 and almost winning Bathurst, I thought I should go and do this again."
"It's a great race track and a place that I love and to have a chance to do that with Craig and Team Vodafone is obviously pretty special."
"I can probably do it for four or five more years. The preparation is more like a boxer than a full-time race driver because I need to get myself up for those events."
"I felt really good and confident doing that last year, so if I can keep on enjoying it and going up there and doing a good job – because I certainly don’t want to go up there and not do a good job – I've probably got four or five years left in me."
Lowndes, with Team Vodafone's striking new Commodore VE race car in the background added: "It's really exciting to be pairing up with Mark again after 10 years."
"He has a lot to contribute in a driving sense and I know his feel for the car, seat position and the way he likes the car set up is very similar to mine."
"His technical input and especially his mental approach will definitely suit our team."
Wincup will team with former Fujitsu series winner Steve Owen in the enduro events.
"I raced go-karts and Formula Ford with Steve and I have always rated his ability," Wincup said.
"He was my first choice and I know look forward to giving him the opportunity to perform at his best."
"Our partnership should give him the opportunity to show his skills."
Team Vodafone will begin testing at Queensland Raceway next week.