Lowndes, the Aussie we like to like
This weekend in Pukekohe may be about seeing Kiwi drivers Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen battling it out for the Supercars title, but it’s also about something else.
It’s a chance to farewell an icon of motorsport as Craig Lowndes makes his last appearance in a Supercar in New Zealand.
The 44-year-old is stepping down as a full-time Supercars driver next year and will race as a co-driver in the endurance rounds at Bathurst, Gold Coast and Sandown.
So this weekend is his last chance to do something he’s never achieved during his glittering career – to win a race at Pukekohe.
Yes, he may have 107 Supercars race wins, conquered Bathurst on seven occasions and be a five-time Supercars champion, but the small track south of Auckland has remained elusive and he’s out to make amends.
‘‘It’s one of the two tracks I haven’t won at, Townsville and here.’’ Lowndes told yesterday. ‘‘In 2015 we were close to winning a race here, until the tyre blew.
‘‘It’s a track that I enjoy, it’s flowing and I’m keen this weekend to rewrite history.
‘‘We’ve had a cracking couple of months, from Sandown, through Bathurst and the Gold Coast and now we come here with a lot of confidence that the car should be good.’’
While this weekend will be the last time he’ll race in a Supercar in New Zealand, he said he would like to return to this side of the Tasman to race in other categories, such as the GTs. Wherever he does appear he’s be sure to pull a big crowd.
A few years ago ran a poll asking people to pick their favourite Supercars driver and Lowndes came second, behind McLaughlin.
‘‘There are many Kiwi drivers out there who are strong and competitive,’’ Lowndes said.
‘‘Scott Dixon, who I raced against growing up, Greg Murphy, who I paired up with and raced against and now you’ve got Fabian Coulthard, Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen.
‘‘It is nice to have that support over here, knowing that I’m Australian. We come over here and all talk about the rivalry between Australia and New Zealand and it’s nice to have that support.
‘‘This weekend we’ll see what happens, but it will be nice to get out and mingle with the crowd.’’
There has been a fair amount written in Australia about how Supercars will cope with the loss of Lowndes as a full-time driver next year. He took the mantle as the face of Supercars from Pete Brock and there will be a gap to fill once Lowndes steps away.
It’s been said Lowndes is so popular because of the way he’s marketed himself, always agreeing to do interviews, sponsor events and signing sessions, all with the aim of building up his brand.
But that’s a rather cynical view of Lowndes. He doesn’t brush away fans like other drivers, and always appears genuinely interested to chat to those hanging around out the back of his garage.
‘‘That’s just me, I enjoy talking to people,’’ he said.
‘‘I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and talking to people and for me, that hasn’t changed, regardless of whether or not I’ve been successful.
‘‘That’s been my DNA and I think it’s served me well throughout my career.’’