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LOWNDES SET FOR TV STARDOM

Craig Lowndes has teamed up with Mates4Mates - Photo: InSyde Media

By Bruce Williams

Craig Lowndes to join Supercars TV - Photo: InSyde Media

Craig Lowndes to join Supercars TV – Photo: InSyde Media

V8 legend Craig Lowndes will be gone but far from forgotten from full-time racing in 2019, with big plans to make him a Supercars TV star.

By MARK FOGARTY

As part of Lowndes’ retirement plan, he will become a regular on race broadcasts at events that don’t clash with any international driving commitments he may secure and around his Triple Eight co-driving duties in the enduros.

How he will fit into Supercars’ commentary team will be announced in mid-to-late January, along with other changes and innovations for the coverage on Fox Sports and Network 10.

Supercars chief executive Sean Seamer confirmed that Lowndes’ broadcasting role was being finalised around his racing plans, which could include international GT outings.

“Craig will be joining the Supercars broadcast team from next year,” Seamer told AUTO ACTION. “He’s obviously co-driving in the enduros and he has some international ambitions as well, so we’re just finalising exactly at which rounds he’ll be doing what.

“Once we know exactly what he wants to do around Le Mans and some other events, we’ll lock that down and share that with everybody in January.”

Seamer indicated that when he is available, Lowndes will be part of the core of on-air talent on both the Fox Sports and 10 telecasts, both of which are produced by Supercars Media and simulcast.

“We’re aiming for a seamless experience,” he said. “The viewer should not be able to tell whether he’s working for Supercars or Fox Sports and that’s what we’ve put a lot of effort into this year with the whole team.

“But he’ll be doing a range of different things, working from garages as well as commentating and providing expert opinion.”

AA understands Lowndes will complement the existing line-up of former V8 drivers on the broadcasts.

Mark Skaife, Neil Crompton, Greg Murphy and Mark Larkham feature on the simulcast race coverage, while Russell Ingall appears as a pundit exclusively on Fox Sports.

Like Skaife, Crompton and Murphy, Lowndes is set to also be a regular on Fox Sports’ Jessica Yates-hosted coverage outside the track action at the non-enduro events he attends.

Even at Bathurst, Gold Coast and Sandown, where he will most likely partner Jamie Whincup at Red Bull Holden Racing Team, the 44-year-old V8 veteran will almost certainly provide insight when he’s out of the car.

Despite the addition of superstar Lowndes’ to the high-priced roster of ex-driver commentators and pundits, Seamer affirmed that Murphy had been re-signed as primary pit lane reporter, although he was unable to confirm if Ingall was also returning as a Fox Sports pundit.

“The guys at Fox Sports are working through that at the moment,” Seamer said. “Greg’s with us again next year, yes.”

“Russell works with the Fox Sports team, so I’m sure they’re working through what his plans are for next year as well.”

Among the other broadcast enhancements to be announced next month are more events available in 4K ultra-high definition – which debuted at this year’s Bathurst 1000, the first Australian sports event available in UHD – and the expanded use of Hawk-Eye in motor racing’s equivalent of soccer’s Video Assistant Referee system.

4K broadcasts are only available to Foxtel subscribers with the latest IQ4 set-top box.

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