Touring Car Masters legend, John Bowe will once again race with the famed number 18, this season.

Bowe carried the number 18 on his door panel for 11 years during his highly successful partnership with racing icon, Dick Johnson.

A period of great significance to his career, Bowes time with Dick Johnson Racing netted two Bathurst 1000 wins, an Australian Touring Car Championship and made the talented Tasmanian a household name.

Having raced the past two seasons in the Touring Car Masters in a GM-built Camaro, Bowe is delighted to once again be back in a Ford product for 2010. The marque switch prompting Bowes sentimental wish to also reclaim the #18.

After some brief negotiation, fellow Touring Car Masters licence holder, Gary OBrien kindly surrendered the #18 to Bowe.

Designed by SS Media, Bowe is delighted by his 2010 livery with the familiar #18 emblazoned on the door of his newly-purchased 1969 Ford Mustang.

Round one of the 2010 Touring Car Masters kicks off on 11-14 March in Adelaide (SA) at the Clipsal 500.

JOHN BOWE:
I ran the number 18 for 11 years and I had some really good memories from that period.

My time with Dick and DJR was an important part of my racing life which I hold very dear.

There is a lot of nostalgia tied up with the Touring Car Masters series, and this idea just seemed to make sense.

Having the 18 back on my door feels right. I guess its like being back in a Ford this year its what people remember me for.

The Touring Car Masters is proudly supported by Biante Model Cars, Rare Spares, Shannons Insurance, Hoosier Tires and official charity RSPCA Australia.