Lowndes calls time

CRAIG Lowndes’s drive to conquer Mount Panorama is not over yet.

The 44-year-old yesterday announced his illustrious 21year career as a full-time driver was ending, bringing the checkered flag down on his career at the season-ending Newcastle 500.

But the legend will not be lost. The six-time Bathurst winner will continue to race at Mount Panorama, Sandown and on the Gold Coast as an endurance event driver with Triple Eight Race Engineering.

“For me, Bathurst has always been the highlight of the year,” Lowndes said. “There’s no doubt that when we get to Bathurst this year, Richo [codriver Steven Richards] and I — and I’ve spoken to Richo — we’re going to give it our all to make that, for me, No.7 and another one for the team.”

Partnering with either Shane van Gisbergen or Jamie Whincup in a V8 super team, Lowndes’s dream of equalling Peter Brock’s Mount Panorama record of nine remains alive.

“I think we’ll be having an arm-wrestle for who gets him as a co-driver next year,’’ Red Bull Holden Racing driver van Gisbergen said.

An emotional Lowndes yesterday revealed the reasons for his decision in Townsville ahead of this weekend’s Supercars round. “I’ve always said there are two key factors keeping me racing and those are my motivation to keep getting up and doing what I love and my competitiveness, and for me, nothing has changed,’’ Lown- des said. “But at the same time I want to make sure I finish my last full-time season with some strong results in the bag.’’

Lowndes revealed he will join the V8 commentary team next year and is also considering racing overseas.

“I’ve also always said I’d love to do more racing overseas and in different categories,’’ Lowndes said. “Le Mans is definitely on the bucket list.”