The last round of the 2007 Australian V8 Supercar Championship saw John Bowe complete his final laps as a full-time driver in the series after 22 years in the top tier.
Making his 225th championship start at Phillip Island, the former Australian Touring Car champion and two-time Bathurst winner made an emotional exit from the category, having announced his retirement at the start of the year. The Glenfords Racing star has enjoyed a tremendous response from both Ford and Holden racing fans throughout 2007, and this continued in a fitting send-off at the season finale.
In acknowledgement of his achievements in the sport, Bowe led the drivers' parade for a lap of honour of the Phillip Island track, but was not rewarded with a dream result as the top four drivers in the standings fought it out for the title.
Starting 27th in race one, Bowe peaked in tenth place as the field shuffled through their compulsory pit-stops, before his afternoon was turned around by a black flag for 'inoperative brake lights', forcing him to bring the Glenfords Racing Falcon back into pit-lane - where the team found that the brake lights were functioning.
With the unwarranted pit-stop ruining Bowe's chances to move up the order and better his position for the remaining two races, the veteran was left to face further battles in the midfield. Race two saw him rocket off the line, making up several positions before the first turn, only to be hung out to dry and eventually round out the opening lap in 29th, before chipping away either side of the pit-stop to come home in 25th spot.
Things didn't get much better in his final outing either, as he had to fight hard all the way through the 27-lap encounter just to take the chequered flag in 23rd place. From there, he quietly stepped into retirement.
