Craig Lowndes by Phillip Whelan

Craig Lowndes (Born June 21, 1974) - son of Frank Lowndes who had been a mechanic for Peter Brock as part of the Harry Firth - run Holden Dealer Team.

Craig, known as "The Kid", had his grounding in mini-bikes, karts and open-wheelers. In 1993 Craig won the Australian Formula Ford Championship before moving into Formula Holden the next year and taking out the Silver Star class. The same year he gained the opportunity to test with MHRT and drove for them in the endurance races of 1994 and 1995.

Liking what they saw the team bosses decided to keep him on. Early days in V8 racing showed his incredible speed, which surprised some of the existing stars of the sport.

Joining HRT full time in 1996 he became the youngest ever touring car champion in his very first year. Craig was also only the second driver to win Sandown and Bathurst in the same year, effectively taking the Australian Touring Car Championship's 'Triple Crown' on his debut in the category. Not since Peter Brock, in 1980, had a driver achieved this incredible feat.

Determined however to enter European Formula 3000 Craig left the country in 1996. By 1997 this dream had turned into a nightmare, putting this disappointment behind him Craig returned to MHRT and immediately won the Sandown 500 with Greg Murphy. Since that time Craig has won the 1998 & 1999 SATCC and proven his fitness again and again.

In 2000, despite destablising talk and rumors regarding his plans to leave HRT, Craig completed his tour co-driving Mark Skaife to championship victory at Bathurst, and coming third overall in the series himself.

Craig Lowndes swapped marques from season 2001 to settle in under the banner of Ford Racing. During his first season he once again showed his ability with race wins in Adelaide and Sandown, as well as pole position at Oran Park.

Career Highlights

2003

- 5th place in V8 Supercar Series
- Second place Bathurst 1000 with Glenn Seton
- Round win at Phillip Island
- Second place at Eastern Creek and Oran Park rounds

2002

- Third place Eastern Creek Round
- Third place Canberra 400 Round
- Second place Gold Coast Round

2001

- Race win at Clipsal 500 Adelaide
- Race win at Sandown 500 (V8 Supercars)
- Pole position Oran Park Round

2000

- Third place Australian Touring Car Championship
- First place Barbagallo Raceway Round
- First place Queensland Raceway Round
- First place Queensland 500

1999

- First place Australian Touring Car Championship
- First place Adelaide 500
- First place Barbagallo Raceway Round
- 6th place Tasman Cup (Formula Holden)

1998

- First place Australian Touring Car Championship
- First place Sandown International Raceway Round
- First place Symmons Plains Round
- First place Phillip Island Round
- First place Barbagallo Raceway Round
- First place Calder Park Raceway Round
- First place Oran Park Raceway Round

1997

- 17th FIA Formula 3000 Championship
- First place Sandown 500

1996

- First place Australian Touring Car Championship
- First place Bathurst 1000
- First place Sandown 500
- First place Eastern Creek Raceway Round
- First place Sandown International Raceway Round
- First place Symmons Plains Round
- First place Lakeside International Raceway Round
- First place Barbagallo Raceway Round
- First place Mallala Motorsport Park Round
- Pole position at Sandown 500

1995

- Pole position at Bathurst 1000 Classic
- Pole position at Sandown 500

1994

- First in Class Bathurst 12 Hours
- 4th Australian Driver's Championship

1993

- First Australian Formula Ford Championship

JAN05

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