MOTORSPORT: Lowndes pumped to take on Finke in Chevrolet Silverado ZR2

Craig Lowndes is preparing to head off the beaten track, with the seven-times Bathurst 1000 winner set to jump behind the wheel of a factory-prepared Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 in this year’s 2024 Tatts Finke Desert Race.

No stranger to dirt-based competition, Lowndes won the 2010 Australasian Safari aboard a Holden Rodeo alongside Kees Weel, while he has previously been a guest at the Northern Territory event as recently as 2021, where he sampled both a trophy truck and a CanAm.

For his competition debut, Lowndes will be joined by highly experienced navigator Dale Moscatt, who brings to the outfit extensive experience in the event.

“It’s been a little while since I’ve driven off-road, the last time that I drove was in the Australasian Safari, so it’s nice to go back,” Lowndes told carsales.

“I’ve been to the Finke race many times, and through this opportunity now with GMSV and Chevrolet Racing I’m looking forward to having some fun.

“This is only going to be the third time I’ve ever raced with someone sitting alongside me, Dale has done it many times, so he is very experienced with the terrain and what the track is going to be all about.

“In the Finke, you get to pre-run the course, but with all of the buggies, side-by-sides and motorbikes, you talk to the drivers and riders, it really doesn’t matter what you do early in the weekend, the whole track changes quickly.

“Testing has gone very well; it’s been really interesting to be a part of the project.

“Internally at GM it was something that they wanted to do with staff engagement, and once the build got underway, it has really evolved into something special.

“The truck itself has a lot of stock styling about it, it’s very much based off the Hall Racing Silverado in the USA, so we have a good baseline to work off.

“It really has evolved, over the last couple of test days, we have specced the truck up and put it through its paces to see what it can handle.

“It’s great to be able to showcase that GMSV is here in Australia; obviously over the past couple of years, it has undergone some name changes, but they are here to stay and looking for ways to showcase their products,” he said.

For Chevrolet, the venture is a natural expansion of its extensive involvement in motorsport.

“This is Chevrolet Racing’s first foray into the world of off-road racing and builds on other motorsport categories we compete in, including Supercars and drag racing,” said Chris Payne, general manager Chevrolet Racing Australia and New Zealand.

“It’s a natural fit for a vehicle such as the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2, which is already an accomplished all-terrain performer in its own right, as this provides an opportunity to showcase all-round capability and demonstrate multi-purpose off-road prowess.

“Extensive testing has proven this off-road racer is no slouch, but at the same time we’re under no illusions that this race is one of the toughest in the world and is going to be a real challenge for team and machine.”

The prologue for the 2024 Fink Desert Race takes place on Saturday, June 8, with the race legs set to be contested on the following two days.

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