Lowndes has final mountain to climb
CRAIG Lowndes’s drive to conquer Mount Panorama is not over yet.
The 44-year-old yesterday called time on his illustrious 21-year career as a full-time driver, bringing the chequered flag down on his career at the season-ending Newcastle 500. But, the legend will not be lost.
The six-time Bathurst champion 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 ... there’s no doubt that when we get to Bathurst this year, Richo (co-driver Steven Richards) and I – and I’ve spoken to Richo – we’re going to give it our all to make that, for me, number seven and another one for the team.”
Partnering with either Shane van Gisbergen or Jamie Whincup in a V8 crack team, Lowndes’s dream of equalling Peter Brock’s Mount Panorama record of nine victories 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.
“It’s pretty awesome. There’s not much you can say that hasn’t been said about him.”
An emotional Lowndes yesterday revealed the reasons for his decision at a press conference in Townsville before 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,” he 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, and after this year’s results so far, Roland Dane (Triple Eight Race Engineering boss) and I came to the decision between us that this will be my last full season behind the wheel.’’
Lowndes yesterday revealed he would join the V8 commentary team next year and considered racing overseas.
“I’ve also always said I’d love to go and do more racing overseas and in different categories,’’ Lowndes said.
“Le Mans is definitely on the bucket list and hopefully this will enable me to go and do that, which Roland and the team will be supportive of.”
Supercars boss Sean Seamer said Lowndes was n the most recognisable face within Supercars and a role model of the sport.
‘‘He’s a true legend of Australian sport,” Seamer said.
I’VE ALSO ALWAYS SAID I’D LOVE TO GO AND DO MORE RACING OVERSEAS CRAIG LOWNDES