Lowndes to set new round starts benchmark

This year's Repco Bathurst 1000 holds extra significance for Craig Lowndes, who will create Supercars history.

Lowndes was confirmed alongside Declan Fraser in a Triple Eight wildcard for October's race.

The seven-time Great Race winner will become the first driver to record 300 ATCC/Supercars round starts.

Super2 driver Fraser, meanwhile, will make both his main game and Bathurst debuts.

'The 300 club' is synonymous with NRL and AFL, with player celebrated for 300 games.

It has never happened before in Supercars, until Lowndes suits up at Mount Panorama on October 6.

Lowndes' last full-time start came in 2018

He will also make a 29th consecutive Bathurst start; he hasn't missed a Great Race since his 1994 debut.

Only Jim Richards (35 Bathurst starts) and Peter Brock (32) made more starts at Mount Panorama.

That number will hit 30, with Lowndes contracted with Triple Eight until 2023.

Lowndes made his full-time debut in 1996, and did the title-Bathurst-Sandown triple.

He added championships in 1998 and 1999, all three coming with the Holden Racing Team.

He had to wait 10 years for a second Bathurst win, in 2006 for Triple Eight, but five more came in his next 12 starts.

Lowndes' 14 Bathurst podiums is an outright record, ahead of mentor Brock, Richards and Larry Perkins (12 each).

Lowndes' 2018 win was his 14th Bathurst podium

Just 20 drivers in ATCC/Supercars history have made 200 or more round starts.

Of those 20, 10 will be on this year's Bathurst grid.

That includes four-time Bathurst winner Garth Tander, who will make his 288th round start.

Bathurst will also be 2013 Great Race winner Mark Winterbottom's 261st round start, moving him to fourth outright.

Tickets for this year's Repco Bathurst 1000 are on sale now.

The 2022 season will resume in Darwin on June 17-19. Purchase your tickets now.

Top 20 most ATCC/Supercars round starts (1960-2022)**

*Will race at 2022 Repco Bathurst 1000

**Correct to 2022 Pizza Hut Winton SuperSprint