Lowndes is still king of the road as he prepares to race at Symmons Plains next weekend
HE is adored by race fans across Australia and, at 43, supercars king Craig Lowndes says he still loves racing — especially in Tasmania.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
HE is adored by race fans across Australia and, at 43, supercars king Craig Lowndes says he still loves racing — especially in Tasmania.
The first driver in the history of Supercars to win 100 races, Lowndes says he has plenty left in the tank.
The day he doesn’t, he will hang up the race suit.
“Do I still get a buzz out of racing? Yes, Definitely. Absolutely,” Lowndes said.
“That’s why I still do it
“I still look forward to it.
“When that buzz stops, I’ll think about what else I’m going to do.”
Lowndes will be the most popular driver at Symmons Plains next weekend when the supercar circus lands in Tasmania for the third round of the championship.
It is Tasmania’s biggest sporting event, averaging about 60,000 people over the weekend, and generates $1 million a year to the local economy.
“It’s a great opportunity for people to come and see us race,” Lowndes said.
“At one point we didn’t race at Symmons, which was a shame, but thankfully common sense prevailed and we’re back there racing and it has been great ever since.
“Spectators can sit on the hill and see pretty much 90 per cent of the circuit, which is very unique and rare.
“It’s great we go there every year.”
Another bumper turnout is expected for Round 3 of the championship this year — normally it is Round 2 — to see the Fords and Nissans go up against a fleet of new-look Holden ZB Commodores, which boast a top speed of 298km/h.
Tassie fans will see the debut of a radical new qualifying session for Symmons Plains and Barbagallo (WA), which splits qualifying into three rounds.
Race fans can watch the action from a rooftop over the pit garages and get up close and personal with the drivers and cars on the Super Track Walk at 8.45am on Saturday.
Lowndes has achieved everything a young driver would hope to put on his CV by career’s end.
He has won the Supercars championship three times, won Bathurst six times and is a five-time Barry Sheene Medal winner (top Supercar competitor for outstanding leadership, personality, fan appeal and sportsmanship).
Lowndes holds the record for the most podiums at Bathurst (13), and in 2012 received the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his success in motorsport and contribution to the broader Australian community.
These days, Lowndes runs his own team, Autobarn Lowndes Racing, a long way from the cheeky teenager who on debut at the Sandown 500 endurance race in 1994 almost beat John Bowe to the checkered flag before the wily Tasmanian finished on top.
A year later, Lowndes rocked the Supercars scene by qualifying on pole at the Bathurst 1000, although oil pressure problems forced him out of the race.
In 1996 he won the Supercars championship on debut.
From his 659 race starts, Lowndes has 127 wins and 288 podiums — his last at Symmons Plains last year.
“We had a good run there — we always have a good run at Symmons,” Lowndes said.
“It’s quite a unique circuit.
“It’s one of only two circuits where we lap in under a minute.
“I really enjoy it because it has got that unique hairpin at turn four and it really sets up the whole lap.
“We talk about this every year. We even have to set up the car’s steering rack to suit that corner, in particular.
“It’s a short little track and I enjoy the atmosphere and we have a great fan base in Tassie.
“The circuit itself is a low-drag circuit because with the big, long back-straight you want to maximise the straight-line speed so you crank the rear wing off, make the car flat and as fast as you can in a straight line.
“But then you’ve got to get the braking stability and the drive off turn two as good as you can, and all of those elements make it a challenge for us.
“I don’t know what it is, but I have really enjoyed the past down there and looking forward to coming back.”
james.bresnehan@news.com.au
Pics: Canes stars mingle with northern fans on trophy tour
A Hurricanes player has revealed how he was happy to park the ego and play a support role for devastating hitter Mitch Owen, as the title-winning players mingled with Launceston fans on Tuesday. SEE THE PICTURES HERE.
Launnie livewire named Cricket Blaster of the Year
She may be deaf, but that hasn’t stopped Launceston livewire Frankie Mountney chasing her cricket dreams. Her inspiring story was recognised with an award at the sport’s night of nights.