Peter Brock's wife Bev backs Craig Lowndes for Bathurst

THE widow of motorsport great Peter Brock says she'd be delighted if Craig Lowndes one day eclipses Brock's record of nine Bathurst victories.

Craig Lowndes and Bev Brock share a laugh ahead of the Bathurst 1000.

HE'LL always be the "King of the Mountain" but the widow of motorsport great Peter Brock says she'd be delighted if Craig Lowndes one day eclipses Brock's record of nine Bathurst victories.

Lowndes goes into Sunday's race a raging favourite to claim his sixth Bathurst 1000 title and made a rock-star entrance to Mount Panorama today as his Holden was airlifted onto the track by a helicopter.

The TeamVodafone Commodore has been given a new paint-job for this weekend's race, decked out in the famous red and white livery that Brock made famous in the 1970s and 80s.

Brock's long-time partner Bev was given a spin in the car with Lowndes and after arriving at pitlane she spoke of how no-one emulated her late husband's ethos and commitment more than Lowndes.

"I think of Craig as a little kid, we used to put his racecar in the truck and take it to events," Brock said.

"To now see Craig in this position and know he's challenging Peter's record, it's just an amazing feeling.

"Peter gave a lot of wisdom to a lot of people but very few picked it up.

"Craig did and he's run with it, very impressive."

Lowndes broke down in tears on the podium after winning the 2006 Bathurst race just weeks after the death of his mentor in a rally in Western Australia.

And with this year's race commemorating the 40th anniversary of Brock's first Bathurst win as well as the 25th anniversary of his ninth and final win in 1987, Lowndes acknowledged emotions were again tense for him going into this weekend.

"For me it's obviously going to be a very emotional weekend of motor racing," he said.

"It was in 2006 and this brings it all back again.

"I don't think anyone will eclipse the nine victories but in saying that records are always there to be broken, it's just a matter of getting everything in line and this weekend we've got the best opportunity to at least make it number six."

AAP