Craig Lowndes Is Ready To Grab 2018 By The Horns

And Reveals His Pet Peeve On The Roads


Article heading image for Craig Lowndes Is Ready To Grab 2018 By The Horns

Craig Lowndes is done with making up the numbers.

With a new major sponsor, new colours and new car, the veteran is determined to make 2018 the year he turns things around in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.

That's not the only thing that's new.

Dunlop's new-for-2018 tyre could be key to the 42 year old rediscovering the qualifying pace that eluded him last year.

But age and disappointment last year hasn't wearied Lowndes, who's itching to get behind the wheel of his new Autobarn Lowndes Racing ZB Commodore.

"It's something we've been working very closely with Holden (on)," he told Triple M.

"We give the car a shakedown on Friday, we do a test at Sydney Motorsport Park the following week and then week and a half we're here (in Adelaide) to hit the streets."

Lowndes is confident he arrives at the season opening Adelaide 500 in "race sharp" condition.

"I think the two things that keep me in the seat of the car is being competitive - and being fit and well and obviously enjoyment of being at events and driving cars," he said.

"I (just) drove with Shane van Gisbergen on the weekend in the Bathurst 12 Hour."

But there'll be no honing his racecraft on public roads, telling Triple M his daily driver is a Holden Colorado (ute).

"It's a great towing vehicle, yeah it's a family van," he said.

Lowndes also admits to suffering from the occasional dose of road rage.

"I do get frustrated on the roads - people sitting in the right lane doing 40 in a 50 zone... not using indicators."

"That's the one biggest thing for me is, not knowing where people are going."

The Adelaide 500 won't be the only Virgin Australia Supercars Championship event raced in South Australia this year.

A new circuit called "The Bend" has been built an hour south east of Adelaide, and Lowndes like what he sees.

"Tailem Bend is going to be from what I've seen... out there," he said.

"It's the first of the tracks around here you would probably classify as a world class Formula One track."

The Virgin Australia Supercars Championship starts with the 20th anniversary of the Adelaide 500 from March 1-4.

You can hear Lowndesy's full interview below.

 

Sean Maynard

6 February 2018

Article by:

Sean Maynard




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