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After a brilliant career that lasted two decades, Australian touring car legend Craig Lowndes announced that the 2018 season will be the last in the Supercars category as a full-time driver
. Three honors, including three victories in Bathurst and more than a century of victories, the 44-year-old athlete made the heavy decision to leave his position at Triple Eight and stay for another 12 months on his contract.
"I've always said that there were two key factors that allowed me to run, and that are my motivation to keep getting up and doing what I love and my competitiveness, and for me, nothing has changed, "writes Lowndes in the press. conference.
"But at the same time, I want to make sure to finish my last season full time with good results in the sack, and after this year's results, Roland [Dane] and I came to the decision between »
Despite having managed to win all titles with Triple Eight over the past 14 years, Lowndes has had a difficult time since it was released from the Red Bull component of the competition. Queensland.The 2017 season saw its worst position in the championship since the dark days of Ford Performance Racing, after finishing tenth in the standings without a win in his name.
This season has seen a kind of revival for the cunning militant, having broken his winless drought in Tasmania from a long-awaited pole position with his new engineer, John McGregor.Lowndes also showed a vintage form to the Perth round with a driving amazing from the back of the field to the podium, which strengthened his score in fourth place on the championship table.
(AAP Image / Mark Horsburgh)
As much as it is unfair to Excluding from the fight for the championship this season, it seems like the ultimate price for Lowndes will be to get a seventh crown of Bathurst 1000 alongside long-time co-pilot Steven Richards.
The Holden rider will have more opportunities to compete with his former mentor and great friend Peter Brock, who has won nine wins at Bathurst, with Lowndes remaining as co-driver with Triple Eight.
Beyond feats and accolades, Lowndes is the "champion of the people" and fan favorite, including this writer
From Symmons Plains to Darwin and Sandown to Perth, Lowndes has always shown great passion for fans who gather around the country to see it, either by posing for each photo or ensuring that everyone has their distinctive signature, giving their time and rewarding those who share their love of the race .
This trait is quite in the mold of the great Peter Brock during his time and is now seen through the actions of Scott McLaughlin, who has long been compared to Lowndes in all facets.
Perhaps the greatest track moment of all races was at Bathurst in 2015, where he negotiated with co-driver Richards the time and several safety cars from 15th place to win the race, giving Lowndes his sixth win Behind, Lowndes' Bathurst 12 Hours win for Maranello Motorsport in 2017 alongside triple Eight team-mate Jamie Whincup and GT Le Mans winner Toni Vilander was another remarkable achievement.
Winning once around the mountain is a monumental feat, but having reached six in a passenger car, then two in a Ferrari GT at the endurance show 12 hours is the mark of a truly driver prodigious, who has entertained a lot of races fans for generations.
Although this is the end of a chapter of Lowndes' illustrious career, his presence will still be felt in the media for Supercars TV and as a co-pilot with his loyal Triple Eight team. Overseas racing is another ambition cited by the champion three times, with a plethora of GT series to choose from, including the coveted 24 Hours of Le Mans.
So, considering the countdown and the 15 races that remain in his full-time career, if you have not seen him in the race yet, it is strongly recommended to do editing to attend a unique talent. There is also hope given its form so far this season that further victories can be obtained, especially another in Bathurst, for the great champion of the people.
Thank you, Craig Lowndesy.
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