Craig Lowndes: “It’s a great honour to be on the top step again”
Triple Eight Race Engineering’s Craig Lowndes took his fourth win of the season, and more importantly his sixth win at Mount Panorama at today’s Bathurst 1000 after showing strong pace along with co-driver Steven Richards throughout the famous event’s 161 laps, and says to have his name inscribed on the Peter Brock Trophy again is a “great honour”.
Lowndes and team-mate Whincup carved their way through the field, with the two Triple Eight Holden Commodores cars showing their free practice pace had translated into strong race pace as well, with Whincup having set the all-time practice record around the circuit on Friday in Practice 5.
Lowndes also set race lap record for the Bathurst 1000 on his way to victory, with all of the drivers on the podium having qualified outside of the top ten.
“That last lap I really backed off and enjoyed the lap for what it was,” said Lowndes. “I could see the crowd going wild across the top and see the flags flying, so it’s always great time for us and great to get back on the podium and be on the top step with Richo (Steven Richards).”
After taking his sixth win on the mountain, Lowndes equals Mark Skaife and Larry Perkins tally of wins at the circuit, with co-driver Steven Richards’ father Jim the next target on seven, and the all time record that of the man whose name is on the trophy, Peter Brock.
On whether he believes he can match Brock’s achievement, Lowndes said:
“I’ve always said it’s doubtful. Nine times is a lot of wins. He was very instrumental in helping me when I first come to the place, and really it’s an honour to have our names put on that trophy. It’s a great honour to be on the top step again.”
Co-driver Steven Richards was also delighted to secure his fourth Bathurst victory, and now shares the same number of wins at Mount Panorama with Jamie Whincup, Greg Murphy, Allan Moffat, Harry Firth and Bob Jane.
“I’m pretty humbled to be honest,” said Richards. “I’ve been lucky enough in the four times I’ve been up here I’ve driven with some great guys and been involved with some really cool teams. At the end of the day, we come along and play our role and get involved and make a deal with the team to have some input and work with (Lowndes) and make the thing go fast. I’m just a small cog in a very big wheel.”
Lowndes received a helping hand at the end of the race from team-mate Jamie Whincup, who was given a drive-through penalty after having passed the safety car to hold on to his second position behind Lowndes. Whincup held up the field enough to build a three second buffer, which Lowndes maintained until the chequered flag ahead of championship rival Mark Winterbottom.
“I didn’t know he was getting a drive-through until after the restart,” said Lowndes. “All I got told was there’s no threat from behind, and I didn’t know how to take that – and then as the first timed lap went on they said that Jamie had a drive-through.
“It’s a shame because we had two strong cars up the front, you never know what the outcome couldn’ve been, I think we had the pace on Jamie up the front, but the team could of, would have, maybe, ifs and buts and all that, had a one-two.”
