Lowndes going to Goodwood

Craig Lowndes intends to wind the clock back to his Bathurst 1000 victory in 2006 as he closes on a visit the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK.

As Supercar’s most popular driver accelerates plans for his life after full-time Supercars driving, he has Goodwood as a top priority, together with the 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car classic in France. And, before then, Lowndes has already locked-in a return visit to the Adelaide Motorsport Festival and a return to the Bathurst 12 Hour next February.

"This is now the non-stress, fun time," Lowndes told carsales.

"I still want to do some racing, but I’m hoping we can fit in more of this style of events. I want to showcase a bit of Australian love at Goodwood."

Lowndes will be driving the first Ferrari 488 Pista to reach Australia during the Adelaide event, but his choice for Goodwood is the Betta Electrical #888 Ford Falcon he took to victory at Mount Panorama.

"I’ve been talking to Roland Dane and we’re trying to do Goodwood. He understands it would be great to have a Supercar running up and down the strip.

"He still owns Triple Eight chassis 10, the Betta Electrical car, which is sitting over at Tailem Bend. Depending on the mood he’s in, he either likes the idea or he doesn’t. But he’s keen to do it at some point.

"It’s a question of fitting it into everything else he is trying to do."

The late Peter Brock demonstrated one of his 'big banger' Commodores from the 1980s during one of his visits to Goodwood, but Lowndes has never been because of his full-time Supercars commitments.

"I want to get over there and experience it. I think it will be like the Adelaide Festival. I didn’t know what I was walking into last year with it, but we just fell in love with it."

Lowndes will share the Ferrari in Adelaide with his wife, Lara, during the ‘Prima Tour’ section of the event that includes closed-road stages through the Adelaide hills and three activities at The Bend Motorsport Park.

He’s also looking forward to seeing classic Formula One cars, including one he drove a year ago, during the track action at Victoria Park.

"We did the festival last year and had a great opportunity to drive some old cars over there, including some F1 cars. We had a lot of fun, Lara navigated for me and we’re still married, so it cannot be too bad.

"With the 488 Pista it’s all exciting. Lara has put up her hand again, so she either hasn’t realised how badly I drive or she is very brave."

After Adelaide, and well before his expected co-driving duties with Jamie Whincup at the Red Bull Holden Racing Team, Lowndes will be switching his focus to the Bathurst 12 Hour.

He is yet to confirm his plans for the sports car contest but, having won twice already, he will only be returning in a car that is capable of winning.

"The 12 Hour will be a priority once we get out of the Festival. It will be my first race back next year as a non-full-time Supercars driver.

"We definitely want to win. My plan is to get into a car that will allow me to win. It will definitely be a Pro car, not a Pro-Am," Lowndes said.

Lowndes’ other objective for 2019 is a start at Le Mans, a race he has been eyeing for years, but there is nothing concrete yet and he is still chasing down a potential start.

"It’s still early days at the moment. We’re still trying to open doors and see what’s available," he said.