That’s all folks, says Lowndes
CRAIG Lowndes will stay retired from Supercars for no more than a year — that’s the whisper on pit lane.
“And yes,” the Triple Eight legend grins. “I’ve heard it.”
Lowndes comes into this weekend’s Newcastle 500 — apparently his farewell after 23 years of Aussie motoring excellence — as the reigning Bathurst 1000 champ and sitting fourth in the Supercars title race.
On track, he’s still beating far more than Father Time.
So what chance is there Lowndesy will go all Farnsey next year, or the one after, and come smiling back?
“No, never going to happen,” he tells News Corp. “After this weekend, my days of full-time driving are done. Which is nice, stepping away while still being competitive.
“I’m grateful to make this decision myself, rather than having it forced upon me.”
Indeed, since arriving back in 1996, Lowndes has seen more than one old driver go out in far uglier circumstances.
“And maybe that was because of ego or pride,” he said
“But whatever the reason, I’ve seen drivers go one, even two years too long. So for me, it’s the right time.
“Having done everything I can in Supercars, it’s ‘what else is out there for me?’.”
Apart from staying on as a Triple Eight co-driver, Lowndes will also throw himself into other opportunities like driving the Le Mans 24 Hours.
And as for one day becoming a Supercars team owner?
“No, not at all,” the Holden great continues.
“I’ve never had any ambition to be a team owner or get involved in that side of things. Giving directions, firing someone … that’s not me.”
Lowndes is relating to Aussie race fans like no driver since Peter Brock.
So who now takes his fanfavourite mantle?
“I look at somebody like Chaz Mostert, who has great ability, a great personality, and Davey Reynolds,” Lowndes says, with a laugh. “He just needs to keep a cap on his personality.”