Craig Lowndes Falcon Bigger, Stronger, Faster
Three time V8 Supercar champion Craig Lowndes will be back behind the wheel of a near-new chassis he nearly destroyed for the debut of the Hamilton street race in New Zealand.
It took more than 500 hours for the Triple Eight Racing team to repair the Falcon following Lowndes’ heavy accident with Ford rival James Courtney during round one in Adelaide in February.
Lowndes was forced into a spare car for the second round at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway, while the original vehicle underwent a massive rebuild including repairs to the roll cage and replacing the rear chassis rails, boot floor, rear wing, boot lid and rear quarter panels.
Lowndes said his confidence was renewed in the knowledge he was returning to the newer chassis and he was looking forward to the challenge of setting the car up for a brand new circuit.
“I have a good feeling about next weekend,” the 33-year-old said.
“Because we have had such a big break between rounds and I am going to a brand new circuit with a virtually new car, it feels a bit like we are heading into the opening round of the championship all over again.
“New races are always exciting. No one team has an advantage, we are all in the same boat and success will come down to team work.”
Lowndes’ and his teammate Jamie Whincup will arrive in Hamilton early next week to walk the track and get a good idea on the surface conditions.
“Next weekend we arrive at a brand new track which means a level playing field for all teams,” said Whincup.
“Team work, especially between the driver and engineers will be paramount in practice, to set the car up for the new conditions.”
“Hamilton is a conventional street circuit with crowned roads, man hole covers, changes of track surface and plenty of bumps.
“Traditionally our cars handle the street conditions well, so I will be going into the weekend with plenty of confidence,” the 25-year-old added.
“This is in no way pointed towards any particular incident, more a measure that the board wanted to adopt and has been discussing for several months,” V8 Supercars chief executive Wayne Cattach said.
Technorati Tags: V8 Supercars, Craig Lowndes, New Zealand, Triple Eight Racing
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