CRAIG Lowndes’ assertion that the Gen3 Supercars are reminiscent of the V8 beasts of the late 1990s serves as an ominous sign.
Lowndes was virtually unbeatable in the late ‘90s, winning the ATCC/Supercars Championship crown in each of his first three attempts.
Having previously completed testing and demonstration laps aboard the Gen3 prototype, Lowndes last month hopped behind the wheel of his #888 Supercheap Auto Camaro and will be back at it again today at Queensland Raceway.
That comes in preparation for a two-round enduro wildcard campaign as he tackles the Sandown 500 and Repco Bathurst 1000 with Zane Goddard.
While the new-generation cars have not been every driver’s cup of tea, Lowndes is excited by the blast from the past.
“The car itself does remind me a lot of the late ‘90s, like the VT (Commodore) era, because it moves around under brakes,” he told V8 Sleuth.
“You have got to change your style a little bit to get the maximum out of it but that’s I suppose the challenge for all of us, not just us but everyone up and down pitlane.
“Both Shane (van Gisbergen) and Broc (Feeney) have been complaining about instability under brakes, the rear sliding off the corner and all of that side of it – which it does – but again for me it brings flashbacks of the VT days.”
Lowndes won 23 championship races aboard VT Commodores, spanning from the penultimate round of 1998 through to the end of 2000.
The 49-year-old will make his 30th Great Race start this October, his record at Mount Panorama including seven wins and a further seven podiums.
Lowndes is keen to drive on into 2024 – a prospect which Triple Eight boss Jamie Whincup has appeared very much open to.
