Craig Lowndes made a different kind of motorsport history on Monday, being the first driver to take the plunge in the Big Freeze.
Just one day after the Perth Super440, Lowndes was at the MCG for Big Freeze 11, raising funds in the fight against MND.
The famous event celebrating inspirational MND sufferer and AFL great Neale Daniher sees celebrities slide into an icy pool to raise awareness, and Lowndes became the first motorsport identity to take the plunge in its 11th year.
The seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner dressed up as Mad Max for the occasion, but his trademark smile did not disappear in the icy temperatures, despite doing a backflip in the sub-zero ice bath.
“It is a little bit slippery, so I just need to put some new wets on and get to the bottom as quickly as I can,” Lowndes smiled before taking on the Conrod Straight of water slides.
“I have water still inside me!” he joked after swimming in the ice.
“Being here at the MCG is quite special.
“We knew a little bit about MND, but Neale has made us all aware now. It doesn’t matter where you are or what your demographic is, you sometimes go through it.
“He and the family are doing a fantastic job.
“I am proud to be here, supporting it and representing Supercars.”
Also dressing up for the occasion will be Australian Test cricket captains Mark Taylor (Shane Warne) and Alyssa Healy (Magda Szubanski) Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus (Olivia Newton-John) Australia’s only Tour de France champion Cadel Evans (Max Gawn) Collingwood premiership player Peter Daicos (Heath Ledger) former NRL player Matt Nable (Angus Young), Australian Diamonds captain Liz Watson (Margot Robbie), former Olympian Matt Shirvington (Chris Hemsworth) and former Melbourne player Aaron Davey (Michael Long).
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