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Live coverage: 2018's Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 race from Mt Panorama

CRAIG Lowndes has achieved a fairytale Bathurst 1000 win on his last full-time drive at Mount Panorama, partnering with Steven Richards to achieve a stunning seventh triumph in the Great Race.

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October 7, 2018 - 5:49PM

CRAIG Lowndes has achieved a fairytale Bathurst 1000 win on his last full-time drive at Mount Panorama, partnering with Steven Richards to achieve a stunning seventh triumph in the Great Race.

Lowndes capitalised on an unfortunately-timed cramp to race leader David Reynolds, which denied the pacey Erebus Motorsport team a huge chance to retain the Peter Brock trophy.

The 44-year-old Lowndes overtook Reynolds for the lead with 27 laps remaining, cruising to victory ahead of fellow Commodore Scott Pye and Warren Luff.

DJR Team Penske pair of Scott McLaughlin and Alex Premat were third. With a boisterous crowd - totalling more than 206,000 across the weekend - chanting “Lowndesy, Lowndesy, Lowndesy”, their hero admitted his emotion.

Craig Lowndes celebrates his seventh Bathurst win. Picture: Getty Images
Craig Lowndes celebrates his seventh Bathurst win. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s almost like the 06 back again I think,” he said, referring to his 2006 triumph which came just weeks after his mentor Peter Brock’s death.

“I didn’t have any air in the coolsuit for the last three stints. “Richo and I came into this weekend with a lot of confidence off the back of Sandown. But you never know.

“We didn’t have the speed at the start of the race but we were hoping it would develop and the track would could to us. And it did.”

The success ties Lowndes with Jim Richards, the father of his co-driver Steven, on seven wins, and leaves him behind only Brock, the King of the Mountain, with nine.

Bathurst heartbreak for Reynolds after cramps destroyed his chance at back-to-back wins on the mountain.
Bathurst heartbreak for Reynolds after cramps destroyed his chance at back-to-back wins on the mountain.

Steven Richards became a five-time winner at the age of 46.

After qualifying ninth, the planets aligned for car No.888 on race day. Favourites Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell were brought down to earth early, losing a wheel down the main straight.

James Courtney and Jack Perkins were forced into an early retirement with an oil issue, while Cam Waters’ co-driver David Russell suffered a shunt from teammate Chaz Mostert to send him down the order.

And Lowndes and Richards steadily went to work.

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Updates

RICHARDS ON THE BATHURST WIN WITH LOWNDES

David Campbell

“We’ve had an unbelievable weekend but to finish like that is incredible,” Richards said.

“We’ve got a few years under our belt.

“There’s no better place in the world to win a race than here at Bathurst.”

LOWNDES ON HIS SEVENTH BATHURST WIN

David Campbell

“It’s almost like the 06 back again I think,” he said, referring to his 2006 triumph which came just weeks after his mentor Peter Brock’s death.

“I didn’t have any air in the coolsuit for the last three stints. “Richo and I came into this weekend with a lot of confidence off the back of Sandown. But you never know.

“We didn’t have the speed at the start of the race but we were hoping it would develop and the track would could to us. And it did.”

LOWNDES MAKES IT SEVEN

David Campbell

Craig Lowndes has achieved a fairytale Bathurst 1000 win on his last full-time drive at Mount Panorama, partnering with Steven Richards to achieve a stunning seventh triumph.

Lowndes capitalised on an unfortunately-timed cramp to race leader David Reynolds, which denied the Erebus Motorsport team a chance to defend the Peter Brock trophy.

Lowndes overtook Reynolds for the lead with 27 laps remaining, cruising to victory ahead of fellow Commodore pair Scott Pye and Warren Luff, with DJR Team Penske pair of Scott McLaughlin and Alex Premat third.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/motor-sport/v8-supercars/live-coverage-2018s-supercheap-auto-bathurst-1000-race-from-mt-panorama/live-coverage/006376ce7787d03c12ad452152218ed0