Season in Review: Craig Lowndes

A number of drivers have taken time to reflect on the 2013 V8 Supercars season with v8supercars.com.au. From the best and most disappointing races to rating themselves and others, the ‘Season in Review’ series will continue over the break.

First up is runner-up and fan favourite Craig Lowndes – here are the Red Bull racers thoughts on his stellar year, which saw him come so close to the Championship win.

V8supercars.com.au: What was your best race in 2013?

Lowndes: “We’ve had a few great races – I think Clipsal was probably a standout for me, the Saturday, to go there for the first time with the Car of the Future and win with I think it was a 20 second gap [20.52sec] in the end.

“I think that was outrageous, because you don’t normally win races with that sort of gap or lead! And I classify Adelaide as the toughest race of the year so for it to go our way was very special.”

What has been the most disappointing race?

“I think, for me, what sticks out was the Tasmania 60/60. The way they had the rules and regulations at the time, obviously we were the first to go a lap down and they hadn’t thought about the consequences – so we really just drove around at the back of the field, stayed out of trouble and didn’t score any points.

“That was the disappointing part of it, they hadn’t thought about the consequences of cars going a lap down – which ultimately was my mistake – but then they readjusted thinking after that and of course other people have benefited from it which probably should’ve been us at the start of the year.”  

What’s been the best on-track battle?

“We’ve had a couple of great battles – Jamie and I at Phillip Island on the Sunday, we were able to have a slightly better car on him on the first race on Sunday, but then he had a better car in the second race.

“Also Clipsal, we had some great battles. Jamie obviously was going to be very tough to beat this year and I think the battles we’ve had with him have been fantastic.”

The rivalry with Mark Winterbottom heated up at the last event…

“It was one of those things that happens from time to time when you’ve got two drivers competing, it was the last round of the Championship where the Championship itself is on the line to heat it up. The end result was disappointing, because it took us out of the Championship running.”

Best off-track achievement or memory this season?

“That’s a good question! Off-track stuff has been pretty busy and fantastic again.”

What about winning the Barry Sheene Medal?

"The Gala Dinner at the end of the year was very special, because I didn’t expect that and thought there were other better candidates. For me, I thought when I sat down and they were going to read out the winner, I thought it was definitely not going to be me, so that was a bit of a shock.”

And being voted most popular by the fans as well…

“That was fantastic – I enjoy getting out there and mixing with the fans and giving back as much as we take out of the sport, so really it’s one of those special awards you recognise for the hard work you do during the year.

“And I still believe the fans are the backbone of motor racing, they’re the ones who come every weekend that we race. They pay good money to come in and want to interact, get signatures and have a chat. For me that definitely won’t change into the future.”

What was your goal coming into the season?

“To win a Championship. I always say that Bathurst is the ultimate victory, but being so close to almost having a fourth title was quite amazing after 14 years, it would’ve been a sweet victory, but it wasn’t to be. We just weren’t fast enough. I think if you look at the year as a whole, I think our qualifying – we definitely have to qualify better than we did this year – Jamie was exceptionally good at that side of it and when you’re at the front you generally go on to have podiums and it was my weakness and I just need to focus on that for 2014.”

How would you rate your season out of 10?

“I think like most people, it’s been a rollercoaster. For me I’d say a seven.

“We definitely had a fantastic season, highs and lows like New Zealand, Tasmania, Townsville where we just didn’t get on top of the car. And I think it was a combination of me not giving Jeromy the information he needed to set it up, so definitely we can improve that for next year and hopefully that will turn from a seven into an eight or a nine.”

What has been the most challenging part of running the new generation cars?

“Getting your head around the set-ups. The car is very different to set-up than what we’ve previously had; the way it reacts, rides kerbs and handles is very different. It’s a great challenge – I think there’s no doubt about that, that we all came into this year probably thinking it was going to be an easy transition, but I think it was far from it. I think it also shows that because of that we had multiple winners, which was fantastic. You’ve got teams that have different mindsets to others in setups and that suits from one track to another, and may not suit others. So I think that seeing as we’ve had so many multiple winners I think Car of the Future has definitely created a huge interest.”

What has been the team’s best achievement?  

“I reckon having another one-two finish at the end of the year. I think to have that now three years running has been quite amazing. The first two years everyone probably thought we had better cars because we at that stage we were all on different spec roll cages and cars, but being with car of the future we all started the year off with brand new cars and not knowing what was going to unfold – you get to Sydney Olympic Park with both of us in contention was a credit to the team to sustain that momentum and also sustain the performance that we’ve got.”

What has been the best performance by another driver over the year?

“Scotty McLaughlin, he’s been fantastic. Him winning a couple of rounds, new Zealand would have been a special one for him, and I think he won one at the Melbourne Grand Prix which obviously was a non-Championship round but to win races in front of the car and drivers we’ve got I think was outstanding. I think with what he’s learnt this year, the only difference for him will be a brand new Volvo instead of a Holden. He’s about to encounter a huge challenge within himself and with the team."

Most valuable co-driver?

“Maybe Luke Youlden?”

What is the best change being made to the Championship next year?

“One thing I’m really looking forward to is the twilight night races. I think that they are huge attraction to families that work during the day, are busy and everything else, the opportunity to come and watch us in the afternoon. By the same token I think the cars are more highlighted now with the discs glowing, the little flames out the exhaust, you see during the day will become more apparent in those twilight races.

“I’ve been lucky enough to try them in the past and I think we do have some great circuits that would A, suit very well, and I think B, that the climate – I’d love to see one in Darwin, an afternoon race up there would be fantastic. I know Clipsal obviously one for Saturday, so definitely that mentality is definitely changing.”

Lowndes in 2013