Lowndes still driven to match mentor’s record
HE might be retiring as a fulltime Supercars driver but Craig Lowndes believes he can still reach Peter Brock’s haul of nine Bathurst 1000 victories after clocking up his seventh in stunning style.
Lowndes was a popular winner at Mount Panorama on Sunday, as he has been since winning his first back in 1996.
The smiling assassin ascended to the top step of the podium to rousing cheers of “Lowndesy, Lowndesy, Lowndesy” and was beaming alongside great mate and co-driver Steven Richards.
“I’m delighted. I’m relieved. I’m very thankful and the fans are fantastic,” he said.
“I think if the car broke down they would have jumped the fence and pushed it.”
Lowndes said the win was particularly memorable given the build-up to the race since he announced his retirement in July.
Yet there’s simply no beating the 2006 success, weeks after the death of Brock, his mentor and father figure.
“The ’06 is the special one because of the emotions behind it. But this is right up there. It’s probably the second best,” he said.
Given his success, Lowndes could clearly keep going in the sport for the foreseeable future.
There will be calls for him to stick around for another year after the Bathurst triumph.
As it stands, the 43-year-old will be back as a co-driver for either Jamie Whincup or Shane van Gisbergen in 2019.
And in the meantime, he’ll look at other projects — including a possible drive alongside Richards in the Bathurst 12-hour next February.
However, as long as Lowndes is around he’ll be gunning to match Brock’s incredible benchmark — a goal endorsed by team boss Roland Dane.
“Well Roland actually said I’m good enough for another five years, but I’ve only got a contract for one,” he said. “I should put pen to paper and get those extra four years. It’d be nice to try and get nine, yes.”