Castlemaine’s Declan Fraser ready to race with his idol

Castlemaine’s Declan Fraser will line up alongside one idol this weekend for his Bathurst debut but will be missing another hero close to his heart.

Castlemaine’s Declan Fraser admits it will be tough to fulfil his dreams of racing in the Bathurst 1000 for the first time without his number one supporter - his nanna.

Fraser will make his debut at the Great Race, on Sunday October 9, racing in the Supercheap Auto Racing wildcard, prepared by Triple 888 Racing.

The 22-year-old got the drive after impressing for Triple 888 this year in the Super 2 series, the feeder series to Supercars.

Declan Fraser will race at the Bathurst 1000 for the first time in his career. Picture: Edge Photographics/Triple 888 Racing

He’s currently leading the Super 2 championship, heading into the final two rounds of the series with one to be held at the mountain.

Fraser made the biggest life change of his career, moving from Mackay to the Gold Coast at the start of the year, and success has clearly followed.

“A lot of effort has gone into the season,” he said.

“I took a big risk not only with racing but my life, I moved my life down to the Gold Coast to be closer to the team.

“First time living out of home, I just made sure I had to take every single opportunity possible to get the seat and also for the Super 2 championship to do the best possible job there.

“I’ve been going away to all the races and been in every debrief and prebrief that there has been with main game team as well.

“I knew I was competing against Cameron (Hill, teammate in Super 2) but I had to focus on myself and make sure I was doing the best job possible to get the seat.”

Fraser gets the chance to have Craig Lowndes as his teammate this weekend and his looking forward to racing with one of the all time greats at Bathurst 1000.

Lowndes has won seven Peter Brock Trophies.

While Fraser is excited about having a crack at the mountain, the debut is tinged with sadness.

Declan Fraser get ready to drive the Supercheap Auto Racing wildcard during a test day. Picture: Edge Photographics/Triple 888 Racing

Fraser will have a large crowd at the mountain cheering him on - friends, family and other supporters. One person missing will be his nanna.

Fraser was originally born in Castlemaine, before moving to Wodonga, Mackay and then the Gold Coast. His grandparents remained based in Castlemaine.

And his number one supporter, nanna, would usually attend every one of his races.

But she won’t be there for Bathurst, his finest moment, after passing away last year.

“She always believed I’d make it in the main game and now I get to do it with my idol and I guess you could say her idol (Lowndes),” Fraser revealed.

“The love she had for Lowndesy was next to none.

“Hopefully we can go out there and make her proud.”

She might not be at Bathurst to see Fraser race, but she will be with him in the car in different ways.

“I’ve got a lot of reminders and stuff with her,” he said.

“She’s on my helmet and also a tattoo on my arm.

“She meant a lot to me and my racing. She was always there no matter what race it was.

“She made sure she got there in her caravan with pop and his dog.”

Fraser said he had plenty of fond memories of his time in Castlemaine and tries to visit when he can.

His sister is now based in the town.

“I love my country stuff as well,” he said.

“I love going back to Castlemaine and seeing all my friends and family from down there. got to grow up on riding motorbikes and ATV’s and stuff like that.

“My love for racing and motor cars and motorsports in general started from a very young age.

“Dad taught in a motorsport TAFE and it all just fell into place.”

Fraser said he shared the same lofty expectation of his teammates heading into the race and believes a podium finish is attainable.

Declan Fraser will race in Super 2 and the Bathurst 1000. He is originally from Castlemaine. Picture: Edge Photographics/Triple 888 Racing

However, he will have to overcome his experiences of 2021 when, during the Super 2 series, he crashed at the top of the mountain, destroying his car.

He believes the incident won’t deter him at the mountain this year.

“Everything has been put to bed now,” he said.

“I tried to get back into a car as soon as possible.

“Even the next day, after I actually had that crash at Bathurst, I was trying to find a car to race.

“Leading into Bathurst I’ve done a lot of work to make sure my mental side is intact as well as my physical.

“Lowndesy has definitely helped me keep my cool and made sure I’m focused on everything I am doing.

His focus is to do the best job he can for Lowndes to have the chance to win.

“I’ve just got to be the ultimate co-driver to Lowndesy and just make sure I hand the car back in one piece and let him do what he does best, run laps around the mountain,” Fraser said.

Fraser starts his campaign on Thursday, October 6, with the race to be held on Sunday.