Seventh Bathurst 1000 win for Lowndes
Craig Lowndes' last Bathurst 1000 as a lead driver had a fairytale endingCraig Lowndes is not done yet.
After winning his seventh Bathurst 1000 in his final start as a full-time Supercars racer, the Autobarn Holden driver now has his eye on Peter Brock’s all-time mark of nine victories at Mount Panorama.
“It would nice to try and get nine. I’ll be back next year,” Lowndes said as he and Steven Richards celebrated an epic win on another tough day at Mount Panorama.
“Age doesn’t matter around here. But what you need is a fast car. You never know ” Lowndes enthused.
The man who began as ‘The Kid’ and is now known as ‘Old Mate’ did the heavy lifting and, once again, was the star in his ZB Commodore through the final stages of a race which was run hard and fast from the start.
Lowndes triple-stinted without a cool suit, and without even a fresh-air supply to his helmet, but had his rivals covered as he romped to the final flag.
“I’m delighted. I’m relieved. It’s been a hell of a weekend for us,” Lowndes said.
“[20] 06 is still the special win for me, but this one is right up there, probably second-best. I’ll be back next year to have some fun,” he said.
Scott Pye and Warren Luff ran strongly all day to take the runner-up spot for the second straight year in their Walkinshaw Commodore, while Shell DJR Team’s Penske Scott McLaughlin was best of the championship contenders in third, sharing with Alex Premat despite a pitlane mishap with his Falcon’s brakes.
McLaughlin is now only 19 points behind Red Bull Holden driver Shane van Gisbergen, who could only manage fifth with Earl Bamber. There are three races left in the 2018 Supercars championship.
Bathurst in 2018 was a race which produced the usual run of winners and losers, starting with James Courtney and Jack Perkins whose Commodore engine failed.
“We’ll have to open it up to see exactly what happened,” said team owner, Ryan Walkinshaw.
Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell, the red-hot favourites for the Red Bull Holden Racing Team despite only qualifying second, looked ominous and swift until the right-front wheel fell of their car.
“The wheel nut failed. That’s it,” said their team boss, Roland Dane.
There were brushes and bumps right through the field, but the one in front, David Reynolds, always looked to have an answer in the Erebus Commodore that he and motoring.com.au’s Luke Youlden were hoping to take to back-to-back Bathurst wins.
Reynolds even cranked out a new lap record, covering the course in 2:06.2769 seconds.
At almost the same time, his team mate Anton de Pasquale (a Bathurst rookie with rookie co-driver Will Brown) crashed after a pitstop after running in the lead battle pack for most of the day.
Fabian Coulthard was not quick enough in the second Shell Falcon, Chas Mostert got involved in too much drama and the Nissans weren’t quick enough.
2018 Supercheap Bathurst 1000 results:
1. Craig Lowndes/Steven Richards, Holden Commodore
2. Scott Pye/Warren Luff, Holden Commodore
3. Scott McLaughlin/Alex Premat, Ford Falcon
4. Chas Mostert/James Moffat, Ford Falcon
5. Shane van Gisbergen/Earl Bamber, Holden Commodore
6. Garth Tander/Chris Pither, Holden Commodore
7. Nick Percat/McCauley Jones, Holden Commodore
8. James Golding/Richard Muscat, Holden Commodore
9. Fabian Coulthard/Tony D’Alberto, Ford Falcon
10. Jamie Whincup/Paul Dumbrell, Holden Commodore
Virgin Australia Supercar Championship points:
1. Van Gisbergen, 3276; 2. McLaughlin, 3257; 3. Whincup, 2872; 4.Lowndes, 2787.
Images: Mark Horsburgh/EDGE Photographics
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
