Reynolds the one to beat in Adelaide, says Lowndes
SUPERCARS great Craig Lowndes is backing David Reynolds to spoil the Mustang launch party in the Adelaide 500 in what he describes as the season’s most physically brutal race.
While the seven-time Bathurst champion expected the new Ford machine to “come out of the blocks” for the season-opening race this weekend, he predicted Reynolds’ Holden would be the car to beat.
“I have put my backing into Davey Reynolds,’’ Lowndes said. “I think that with the (technical) change of the springs, going away from the combination springs into the linear spring, I think that Erebus (Motorsport) have got their head around it.
“His results from last year were quite strong and he will want to make sure they build on that and I think they will be a strong combination.’’
The Supercars grid will debut six new Mustangs in Adelaide – two for the championship-winning DJR Team Penske and four under the Tickford Racing banner.
Lowndes, who will make his transition from recently retired full-time driver to commentator for Fox Sports, expected the muscle car to make an immediate impact in the Supercars championship.
“From the test day it proved that the Mustang is not going to be a slow car,’’ Lowndes said.
“I think Ludo’s (Lacroix) a very clever engineer and there is no doubt they would have gone through all the processes to make sure the car is going to come out of the blocks fast.’’
Scorching temperatures are predicted for the first race of the season, peaking at 40 degrees tomorrow and Saturday, which is set to punish the drivers inside searing hot cars.
Lowndes said the extreme weather would test even the fittest drivers.
“It’s not only about being fit, you have to have some stamina,’’ Lowndes said.
“We have seen some really fit drivers like David Reynolds last year succumb to some cramping at Bathurst. He is super fit but you need that stamina as well.
“Because it’s going to be so hot, any lapse of concentration around the streets of Adelaide is going to be really brutal. It is mentally and physically one of the toughest race tracks that the drivers will take on and they have only had one test day since Newcastle last year so everyone is a bit green.’’
Lowndes said the key to winning at Adelaide was simply “staying off the walls”.
“The streets of Adelaide is a circuit where you don’t get any reprieve,’’ he said.
“You are constantly on a brake pedal, throttle, clutch, up and down the gear box, there is always something going on in the race car.
“Drivers have always talked about turn eight and there is no doubt that if you don’t keep your wits about you it is definitely a corner that will bite you and bite you hard. There is no forgiveness going through turn eight.’’