Lowndes goes bush for 2010 Australasian Safari

Holden V8 Supercar driver Craig Lowndes will swap tarmac for dirt this September when he heads offroad to compete in the 2010 Australasian Safari.

Three-time Supercars Champion and four-time Bathurst 1000 winner, Lowndes (pictured) will pilot a specially-modified V8 Holden Colorado 4WD for PWR Performance Products/Holden Rally Team in this year's event. Co-driving with Lowndes in the Colorado will be team owner and past-winner, Kees Weel.

"The Australasian Rally is an event I have been wanting to take part in for years, so when the opportunity came up to drive the Colorado for Kees and the PWR/Holder Rally Team I jumped at it," Lowndes said.

"This is the first time in my career for racing on anything other than bitumen, and the first time I've raced with a passenger sitting alongside me, so it's going to be a great experience.

"I've spoken to many people about the event and I'm really excited. The PWR V8 Colorado is a potential winner, so it's now up to me to utilise the speed and manage the terrain -- I think we'll go great."

Weel said he was confident Lowndes would be competitive in the event, despite his lack of offroad experience.

"Craig hasn't raced offroad before and the Australasian Safari's a whole new ball game, but his list of achievements speaks for itself and we wouldn't have signed him if we weren't confident of Craig doing a tremendous job," Weel said.

Considered one of the motoring world's greatest endurance events, and Australia's most gruelling, the Australasian Safari attracts entries from across the globe, with this year's event already signing entrants from Brazil, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States of America.

Although the exact course is yet to be confirmed, the event will cover at least 3500km through the West Australian outback, spanning remote desert areas, rugged bushland and historic goldfield towns. Like Dakar, the Australasian Safari is open to a range of competitors including moto, auto and quadbike, however, there is no truck class.

"Craig Lowndes is the most popular driver in Australian motorsport and we are delighted that he is contesting in this year's Australasian Safari with the PWR/Holden Rally Team," said Australasian Safari Event Director, Justin Hunt.

"Craig's participation will provide an increased media spotlight on this year's event, which is shaping up to be the biggest yet in terms of competitors, sponsors and overall interest."

Now in its 25th year, the Australasian Safari for 2010 will be held from September 17th to 25th, and as the official media partner of the event, the Carsales Network will bring you complete coverage from start to finish.

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