CRAIG LOWNDES TO BE INDUCTED IN MOTOR SPORT HALL OF FAME

Craig Lowndes to be inducted into Motor Sport Hall o Fame – Photo: Supplied

One of the most popular drivers in Australian touring car history, Craig Lowndes, has been announced as an advance inductee to the 2019 Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame.

A three-time Supercars champion and seven-time Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 victor, Lowndes will be inducted on Friday night, March 15 at a gala black-tie dinner to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre as part of the lead up to the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix.

The Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame is an initiative designed to recognise on and off-track contributors across every discipline of motorsport in Australia from circuit racing, motorcycling, speedway, drag racing, rallying, off-road and karting.

Lowndes, who announced his retirement from full-time competition last year, is the 72nd inductee and joins legends of the sport including Sir Jack Brabham, Alan Jones, Mick Doohan and his own mentor, Peter Brock.

“It’s great to be nominated for the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame,” said Lowndes.

“You don’t get into the business for these sorts of awards, but it’s nice to be recognised for what we’ve done, what we’ve achieved and what you give back to the sport.”

“It is always right to give back as much as you take out.”

“I haven’t actually been to the Hall of Fame dinner before because I have always still been at Albert Park racing or working with my engineers, so I am really looking forward to it.”

“I know there’s been some great people before me that have been nominated. It’s an honour to be part of that list that includes some of the most iconic names in the sport.”

“As big as the night is, it’s actually a fan night as well. Anyone can buy a ticket and come along and rub shoulders with the greats in Australian Motor Sports.”

“It’s great to be able to mix what we do with the fans. You try and do as much as you can at racetracks, but it’s also important to have them included into the ‘night of nights’ like this, to see what goes on behind the scenes and to be also part of it.”

“As I said, it is just a great honour to be nominated.”

Organisers of this year’s event have reserved several tables for Lowndes fans so they can sit together and enjoy watching their racing hero receive his accolades.

One more advance recipient will be announced in coming weeks while a further 11 inductees will be confirmed on the night.

There will also be one addition to the Legends category, joining Sir Jack Brabham and Mick Doohan.

Lowndes will add his Hall of Fame position to a list of previous accolades.

In 2012 Lowndes was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his services to motor sport and the broader community through his commitment to charity and road safety.

He is a five-time winner of Supercars’ Barry Sheene Medal and last year was named as the ABC Sports Personality of the year at the Australian Institute of Sport Performance Awards.

Lowndes was this week announced as part of Fox Sports’ Supercars commentary team, but will also continue as a co-driver for Jamie Whincup at the Red Bull Holden Racing Team in this year’s PIRTEK Enduro Cup program.

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