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Craig Lowndes made an early debut in Australian motorsport, competing in his first event at just nine years of age. Go-Karting was the starting point for this talented youngster, who quickly showed the potential to rise to the ranks of Formula Ford, where he took out the national title in 1993. Hungry for a greater challenge, Lowndes progressed to Formula Holden in 1994, winning the Silver Star class and gaining the attention of prominent V8 Supercar team, Holden Racing Team (HRT). Lowndes was offered a test with the front-running operation and the opportunity saw him quickly establish a clean, quick style behind the wheel of a V8 Supercar. A star in the making, Lowndes took second place at his debut performance in the Bathurst 1000 endurance event in 1994. He secured pole position for the team at both the Bathurst and Sandown events in 1995. Not surprisingly, Lowndes joined HRT full time in 1996 and became the nation’s youngest ever touring car champion. In a brilliant debut season for the 22-year-old, Lowndes became the second driver ever to win Sandown and Bathurst in the same year, giving him victory in the most sought after events of Australian motorsport. The only other driver to win both Bathurst and Sandown, as well as taking out Championship honours in the one season, was the legendary Peter Brock. Clearly, a very special talent was emerging. In 1997, Lowndes headed overseas to explore career opportunities in Europe, but with limited success returned to Australia and the V8 Supercar Series in 1998. Re-joining HRT, Lowndes was quickly back on the pace, again taking the Championship in 1998 and backing up the win with another series victory in 1999. The back-to-back titles made him the first driver to win two championships in a row since his HRT team-mate at the time, Mark Skaife, had done so in 1991-1992. For the majority of the 2000 season, speculation was rife that Lowndes was contemplating a move from HRT. The rumours proved to be correct at the end of the season, but Lowndes remained a professional racer to the end of his association with the team, partnering Mark Skaife to a championship victory at Bathurst and coming third in the series himself. Early in January 2001, the announcement was made that Lowndes’ association with HRT was over. Much to the surprise of the majority of the Australian public, Lowndes had also ended his association with Holden, switching marques to compete in the 2001 season in a Ford for the Gibson Motorsport operation. Driving a Ford for the first time competitively since his Formula Ford days, Lowndes was quick to secure results, with a podium finish at the first event for the year, the Australian Grand Prix. Success certainly didn’t end there, with Lowndes finishing second overall in Round One of the Shell Championship Series at Victoria’s challenging Phillip Island circuit. A third overall followed at Oran Park in Round Eight and Lowndes secured a fitting finale in the V8 Ultimate at Sandown, with some stunning driving giving him second place for the round and securing 11th place overall in the Championship. The 2002 season was spent with the renamed 00 Motorsport (formerly Gibson
Motorsport) operation and with a full season in the ‘00’ Falcon
behind him, Lowndes had a consistent year on the track finishing the season
seventh overall in the V8 Supercar Championship. |
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The beginning of 2003 saw Lowndes back on the move, leaving 00 Motorsport to join the newly formed Ford Performance Racing team, alongside Glenn Seton and David Besnard. In a successful season, Lowndes achieved nine top ten finishes in his brand new Ford Falcon BA. He stood four times on the podium, the triumphs including a win at Phillip Island and an impressive second at the toughest race of the year, the Bathurst 1000. Lowndes finished the year with a top five position in the 2003 V8 Supercar Series Championship Standings, thanks to continually impressive race results. The 2004 season at Ford Performance Racing proved to be an up and down season. Lowndes showed good speed throughout the season, highlighted by seven top ten qualifying times and five top ten finishes. The season was marred by mechanical problems, however Lowndes managed two podium finishes with the highlight being his outstanding form in the enduro events, capped off by another second place finish with Glenn Seton in the gruelling Bathurst 1000 race. Motivated by the desire to spend more time with family, Lowndes has found
a new V8 Supercar home for 2005, joining a Queensland operation for the
first time in his career.
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