BJR explains Lowndes Sandown cameo

Andrew Jones has explained Craig Lowndes' introduction to the Brad Jones Racing fold at Sandown.

It emerged Thursday that Lowndes will steer a BJR Commodore in the Additional Driver session next Friday.

Racer turned broadcaster Lowndes will take to the wheel of Jack Smith’s #4 SCT Logisitics Commodore.

BJR has yet to confirm a co-driver for Smith, who will make his fourth Bathurst start in October.

Given Lowndes’ Triple Eight wildcard won’t be on-site, he didn’t have a car for the Additional Driver session.

It came in the form of the BJR Commodore, with Smith’s advisor Jones the brainchild of the opportunity.

Applications for the Additional Driver session closed on Wednesday.

"We haven’t got a confirmed co-driver for the #4, so we decided to see who was available," Jones told Supercars.com.

Smith on track at The Bend

"Ideally it would have been good to run a confirmed co-driver in that session.

"I reached out to Lowndesy because he’ll run in Bathurst in the wildcard.

"I knew he wouldn’t be in a car that weekend, and I asked him if he wanted to drive our car.

"Between BJR and Triple Eight, everyone agreed that it was fine, and Supercars Media were happy too.

"All parties agreed on it, and we’re excited."

It will be the first time since 2004 that Lowndes has driven a non-Triple Eight car at an event.

Lowndes joined Triple Eight in 2005, and retired from full-time driving in 2018.

The seven-time Bathurst winner will share a Triple Eight wildcard with Super2 leader Declan Fraser.

Lowndes will make Bathurst start No. 29

The duo lapped their car at Queensland Raceway earlier this week.

Fellow wildcards Greg Murphy and Richie Stanaway won't drive at Sandown, but they will test on August 16 at Winton.

The Murphy-Stanaway race livery will be unveiled at Erebus headquarters on Sunday.

Jones, who scored three top-five Great Race finishes, said Lowndes’ laps will be of double benefit.

Smith, who turned 23 last month, will be given a front-row seat to the 110-time race winner’s craft.

While there is no set timeline to announce a co-driver for the #4, Jones was pleased Lowndes took up the offer.

"Any time there’s an opportunity of someone of Craig’s calibre to jump in our car, it’s worth looking at," Jones said.

"In saying that, everyone in full-time drives or co-drives are very well-credentialled drivers.

"It’ll be cool for Lowndesy to be in the car, and it’ll be really cool for Jack too.

"Jack will be able to see how Lowndesy goes about his craft, which will be fantastic."

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