'Driver error' behind race-ending Lowndes crash
"Driver error" behind race-ending Craig Lowndes crash
Lowndes crashed #222 Mercedes-AMG in opening hours
18 cars still running through chaotic opening three hours
A rare error from two-time Bathurst 12 Hour winner Craig Lowndes has brought an early end to the day of the #222 Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes at the Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour.
Chasing the #93 Wall Racing Lamborghini down the mountain, Lowndes clipped the inside apex wall on the run through The Esses down to The Dipper, before ricocheting into the outside wall.
Although TV cameras missed the incident, Lowndes was spotted at the exit of The Chase with the left rear corner hanging out of the #222 Mercedes.
It initially appeared as though the seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner was limping back to the pits to replace a lefty rear puncture, however the Mercedes pulled up just shy of pit entry and well out of harm's way.
The curtailed 12 Hour for the Pro line-up saw Cam Waters miss out on seat time on race day after topping both Saturday morning practice sessions and qualifying ninth on the grid.
"Driver error, which is probably a bit of a rarity," Lowndes said after returning to pit lane.
"I went over Skyline, and I was chasing the Lamborghini and of course with all the Bronze and other people going out there it was a bit of carnage.
"I went over Skyline, went through the left, and as I was about to tip right into The Dipper I just clipped that right wall, and it sort of spat me across, and I thought I'd saved it, but then it just hit the left rear.
"That's what has done the damage, the left rear is the damaged one. I was trying to limp it home, but I think it's probably pulled the driveshaft out of that left side and it's lost drive."
The car cannot be repaired, Lowndes adding: "Unfortunately we couldn't even get it back to repair it, I'm just gutted for the guys. Everyone's put in a thousand percent effort this week, and for Scotty to do what he has done, to have the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia onboard.
"I'm really gutted for Cam, he didn't get a drive, Thomas actually had a good first stint.
"It was my mistake, and this place can bite, and we faced it today."
Although the car is out of the race, fans can still support Scott Taylor Motorsport's charity partner in the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, with more than $50,000 being raised as of time of publication.
Fans can buy a virtual lap of Mount Panorama to help raise funds for the foundation by following this link.
