Supercars fan favourite Mark Winterbottom won't shut the door on a return to the grid full-time but insists it's not on the cards just yet.
Dropped by Team 18 in favour of Anton De Pasquale in August, Winterbottom confirmed on Thursday his 21-year-long career as a full-time driver will end this season.
The 2015 champion is intent on returning as a co-driver for another chance at Bathurst glory but stopped short of saying if he was eyeing another gig for 2026.
"If there's a good option, you consider it, but it's also hard," Winterbottom said on Thursday.
"This takes so much of your life, this sport, emotionally, physically ... I'm not sure what happens when you step away.
"In a good car at the enduros, it's the best audition. Guys go there, who were written off, and they go and win the two biggest races, and all of a sudden they're back in the frame.
"You never say never, but at the moment, it's not really on the cards for me ... You can't answer that until you're in that moment.
"Sometimes fairytales get written."
Winterbottom has battled to be up front in the years since winning his maiden and only championship.
Sitting 15th in the current standings, the 43-year-old finished on the podium this year in Melbourne and Darwin after claiming race 13 last season for the team's first victory.
He finished 18th, with co-driver Michael Caruso, in his most recent Supercars outing at this month's Bathurst 1000.
Winterbottom is now gearing up to race at the penultimate Gold Coast 500 round beginning on Friday.
"At the moment, it's just to disconnect from this is, letting go of something that you absolutely love," Winterbottom said.
"It's so emotional because you're not bitter, you're not angry.
"I love Supercars ... I absolutely love it. I don't come here disgruntled."
After debuting in 2003 with Stone Brothers Racing, Winterbottom has 39 race wins, 120 podium finishes and 36 pole positions across 641 race starts.
He famously held off seven-time champion Jamie Whincup in a dramatic finish to win the 2013 Bathurst 1000 with co-driver Steven Richards at Ford Performance Racing.
The Sydney product celebrated his 600th consecutive race start in Tasmania in August - something no other driver has achieved in Supercars history.
