Lowndes stunned by surprise championship Commodore reunion
Craig Lowndes stunned by surprise championship Commodore reunion
Lowndes reunited with historic Holden, 30 years on from famous 1996 season
Lowndes' Team 18 wildcard Camaro was unveiled at special event
Craig Lowndes was taken aback by a surprise reunion with the restored Holden Commodore he raced to championship victory 30 years ago.
In a standout moment at the event held at Team 18’s Melbourne base, the team surprised Lowndes with an old friend — his 1996 championship-winning Holden VR Commodore.
Aboard the Commodore, Lowndes won a record 16 races en route to the 1996 Australian Touring Car Championship crown as a rookie.
Three decades on, the car — in collaboration with restorer Eggleston Motorsport and Team 18 — was taken to Saturday’s launch and revealed to Lowndes and fans.
In a nod to Lowndes’ heroics with the #15 Commodore, Team 18 is running its wildcard campaign with the number on its Supercheap Auto Camaro.
The blast from the past meant a great deal to Lowndes, who also sat in the car.
"To see the old car today, I know the owner and have followed the restoration, but this is the first time I’ve seen it finished,” the 110-time Supercars race winner said.
"It brings back a lot of memories from when I first drove it in ’96. It’s special to sit in it again, and even more special for people to see the connection between the #15 then and the #15 we carry now.”
The emotional moment wasn’t lost on Hall, who will make his Supercars debut in a solo appearance at Queensland Raceway in August before the enduros.
"To have Craig’s first race-winning car here with the #15 on it, and then our Supercheap Auto Racing car alongside it with the same number, that’s really special. It was his first winning number, so hopefully it can be mine as well,” Hall said.
"Having my name alongside Craig’s is something very special. Ten years ago I was chasing his signature, so it’s pretty surreal.
"Events like this, getting fans and partners involved, that’s what it’s all about. We want to make it special for them, and it definitely makes it feel more real."
