The path taken to Triple Eight Race Engineering’s super team is very different for Craig Lowndes and Garth Tander.
Lowndes’ venture to co-driver duties with Jamie Whincup was well planned, rolling out on a farewell tour in 2018. Tander, in contrast, woke up one day with the news he was being replaced at Garry Rogers Motorsport (GRM), prematurely ending his full-time career and opening the door for Triple Eight to complete a powerhouse driver line-up for the 2019 PIRTEK Enduro Cup.
All together the four drivers have 14 wins in the Bathurst 1000 and 12 Supercars championships, arguably the greatest ever two-car team line-up in the history of the Great Race with a star-studded team inside the garage to boot.
These are the thoughts of Lowndes and Tander as they return to the driver’s seat.
CRAIG LOWNDES
Lowndes is now just two Bathurst wins shy of mentor Peter Brock’s record of nine. And with Lowndes resigning with Triple Eight till the end of 2021, the record for most Bathurst wins is in sight.
Lowndes and Whincup completed a famous threepeat of Bathurst wins for Triple Eight from 2006 to 2008, before the rules were changed to split full-time drivers. It was always the tantalising dream to bring them back together, but it required the 45-year-old legend to retire from his main drive. Enter 2019.
How have you found the transition to being a co-driver?
LOWNDES: I still enjoy the driving and I miss that side of it, but I think it was the right time for me to step down. I could never go cold turkey. The commentary role keeps me involved, still seeing the cars, still talking to the teams and engineers. I think it has been a great transition for me.
Suiting up for Bathurst keeps you very involved.
This story is from the October - November 2019 Issue 113 edition of V8X Supercar Magazine.
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This story is from the October - November 2019 Issue 113 edition of V8X Supercar Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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