New-look Lowndes revs up title chase
CRAIG Lowndes has moved to reassure worried fans by declaring he still believes he can snap his growing Supercars title drought.
The driver associated with the iconic No.888 won the championship in his each of his first three full-time seasons to establish himself as the sport’s star driver.
However, 2018 will be Lowndes’ 19th campaign since winning the last of those titles in 1999. Many fans were concerned by a drop-off in form last year as he endured a rare winless season and finished just 10th in the overall standings.
The 43-year-old though is determined to bounce back and prove that slump was merely a blip on the radar.
“Oh absolutely, otherwise we wouldn’t be doing it,” Lowndes said when asked if he still felt a fourth crown really was attainable.
“We struggled last year to get a podium or a race victory so it really is something that we want to rectify.
“We want to be able to be competitive again this year otherwise it is pointless being there.”
Armed with a fresh splash of paint aligned with a change in title sponsor – his car within the Triple Eight operation has been rebranded Autobarn Lowndes Racing – he is at the very least eager to reclaim his customary place in the end-of-year top five.
Lowndes had been destined to finish sixth overall last year until a late-race collision with Scott McLaughlin during the heart-stopping Newcastle finale in a moment that sparked a rare reaction of outrage from the eversmiling veteran.
Lowndes had been urged by his team to pass McLaughlin to aid stablemate Jamie Whincup’s title chances – but he said that battle had barely crossed his mind.
“I was just driving my race,” he reflected.
“I was having my own little battle with Frosty (Mark Winterbottom) and we wanted to try to secure sixth in the championship. That was what was really in my mind, it wasn’t about Scotty or Jamie at all.”
Qualifying has again been highlighted as a key area Lowndes must improve.
WE STRUGGLED LAST YEAR TO GET A PODIUM OR A RACE VICTORY