Lowndes' high praise for rising star after historic win

Craig Lowndes has hailed the rapid impact of rising star Alice Buckley, who is wasting no time in her climb up the motorsport ladder amid her push to reach Supercars.

The 17-year-old became Australia’s first female TA2 Muscle Car Series race winner at Queensland Raceway over the weekend.

The Queenslander won Sunday’s first race from pole position, before backing it up in the second race despite maintaining the lead with a deflating tyre.

It was an impressive showing by the young driver on a weekend she shared the TA2 grid with the likes of Super2 drivers Jarrod Hughes, Ben Gomersall and Ayrton Hodson.

Mentored by Supercars race winner Tim Slade, Buckley has made no secret of chasing Supercars, and has the support of General Motors, with GM Australia and New Zealand backing the teen’s entry into TA2.

GM ambassador Lowndes, who was on hand for the reveal of Buckley’s TA2 entry, was impressed by the youngster’s immediate impact.

“It's fantastic. Obviously, to step up into that category coming out of Toyota 86 is a big step,” Lowndes told Supercars.com.

“But it's a step that she was ready for and she's grabbed it with both hands. To have two wins was quite incredible.

“Considering they are a controlled category, it's all about maximising every part of what you’ve got. She absolutely did that on the weekend.”

Should Buckley one day realise her Supercars dream, she could become the first female racer since Simona De Silvestro in 2023 to contest the Bathurst 1000. In the 64-year history of the Great Race, only 33 women have started the race.

For Lowndes, the next step for Buckley is to prove her Queensland Raceway performance was no fluke, should she impress Super2 and Supercars teams.

“Through the GM connections, she's got a great opportunity to strive for bigger things,” Lowndes said.

“She's fitted into the TA2 very well. It’s a great step forward to step into a new category, but to already establish yourself as a winner, that's no easy feat.

“A lot of drivers spend a lot of time waiting for that opportunity to get their first victory. She's now ticked that box.

"I think now for her, it's the opportunity to go to other circuits and prove to herself and others that she can win races.”

Should she continue to score results, Lowndes believes Buckley will soon be on the radar of Super2 teams, but insisted she simply make the best of every opportunity she has.

“It’s a bit of a catch-22. Yes, teams will be looking at every young up-and-comer. That’s obviously how they find that next driver,” Lowndes said.

“She'll be definitely part of that list, but I think at this moment, she needs to keep her eyes focused on where she's at, what she's doing, making the best of every opportunity that she's got.

“If she can win at multiple circuits, in different states — she's already done it in different categories — the rest will follow.”