HOLDEN TO YOUR HAT
Supercars great Lowndes on why this season is must-watch
SUPERCARS legend Craig Lowndes is still reeling from the news of Holden’s axing, but the three-time champion said this could be a season in which the Red Lion throws everything at winning the championship.
“I don’t know what the future holds,” Lowndes said. “But, I know Holden is very much committed this year to try and secure another championship.”
CRAIG Lowndes was still reeling from the news while driving out to Tailem Bend for Supercars testing.
The bombshell had just dropped that General Motors was axing its Holden range due to waning sales, and the impact on the elite domestic motor racing championship in Australia would be profound.
There will be 16 Commodores on the grid this campaign - two thirds of the entire field.
The future beyond this year remains very much clouded for the eight teams – including the powerful Red Bull-backed Triple Eight Racing, which V8 great Lowndes remains a part of as an Enduro co-driver.
The timing couldn’t be worse, casting a huge shadow over the Supercars’ opening round – the Adelaide 500, starting today with practice.
“It’s a shock to everyone,” Lowndes said.
“The big thing now is looking after the employees that have been part of the Holden family for such a long time.
“I’ve been honoured to be a part of the Holden family for most of my career ... I’ve been lucky enough to be driving their product.
“I grew up watching it, (but) times are changing.”
Lowndes, who will be front and centre as part of Fox Sports’ coverage this weekend, debuted in a Commodore, and won his three drivers’ titles (1996, 1998, 1999) in one.
He was back behind the wheel for Red Bull during testing at The Bend on Tuesday before teams headed to Adelaide, and will be Jamie Whincup’s co-driver during the Enduro season later in the year.
“It’s the talk of the town,” he said. “It’s going to be a bit of a sad weekend for the fanbase that have followed the brand for such a long time.”
Exactly when the famed Ford v Holden rivalry – built up throughout 60 years of what was originally the Australian Touring Car Championship – will officially end remains to be seen. The Falcons continued to race for two years after Ford ceased production of the model. Commodore may be back next year.
“I don’t know what the future holds,” Lowndes said.
“But, I know Holden is very much committed this year to try and secure another championship.”
Level playing field
And Lowndes reckons they just might.
Bowing out as winners if it is indeed Holden’s final season.
Past champions Whincup and teammate Shane van Gisbergen were left in the wake of Scott McLaughlin and DJR Team Penske’s Ford Mustang as he cruised to a second straight title last year on the back of a record 18 race wins, surpassing Lowndes’ best of 16.
“There’s no doubt they were
left with a bitter taste in their mouth from last year,” Lowndes said of Triple Eight teammates who finished third and second, respectively.
“Supercars have done a more intensive aero balance parity check. It’s really going to come down to the teams that get it right on the day.
“But I still think that Team Penske and Red Bull are the two heavyweights. They go into this year with a lot more continuity with drivers and partner line-ups.”
Lowndes has welcomed the work done behind the scenes to create a more level playing field such as the reduced aero and controlled shock absorbers.
All the technical stuff.
“The cars have evolved ... at the start of the season you’re going to have a lot more competitive cars... they will be a lot more even,” he said.
Dominance to end?
It will be welcome change for some fans who may even have found the dominance of McLaughlin a little boring in 2019, which began with victory in Adelaide.
“If you’d ask Scotty you’d say ‘no’,” said Lowndes, a 672-race veteran.
“Winning never gets boring. But for the fans, when one car, one team, one driver dominates it does start to become boring.”
As well as Holden itself, it could also be the last time McLaughlin drives in the Supercars – for a while at least.
A career in IndyCar in the United States beckons after impressing in testing recently with the Penske organisation. “I think the distraction of America is going to be too much for him,” Lowndes said of the 26-year-old.
“It’ll be interesting to see how he keeps his focus on this part of the world.
“I’m surprised he’s having this year here to be honest. Whether he had a seat option over there, I don’t know. But if he’s got ambitions to go overseas, he really does need to do it.
“He’ll always have a home here in Australia with Supercars if it all fails (but) he definitely needs to do it next year.”
Old Bull
While 2016 champ van Gisbergen looms as fellow Kiwi McLaughlin’s biggest challenger, the evergreen Whincup, 37, remains a force despite looking to eventually transition into the business side of the sport.
“It’s an interesting time in his life because he needs to think about the future,” said Lowndes who has enjoyed his own transition into the media while “keeping his toe in the water” as part-time driver.
“He doesn’t let too much out, so I can’t really pick whether he’s going to continue as a driver or he’s going to step back as more of a businessman.
“My guess would be he would continue on as a fulltime driver beyond this year.
“I flew over here with him. He seemed relaxed going into this week. But I still see the determination in his eye.”