Lowndes honoured for prestigious nomination

Thursday 03 October, 2019

Photo: Revved Photography

Craig Lowndes OAM has been named as one of the nine finalists for the Sport Australia Hall of Fame’s prestigious The Don Award.

The nomination comes after Lowndes’ sensational final season as a full time driver in the 2018 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship where he picked up two wins, including a fairytale Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 victory.

Lowndes’ seventh Bathurst win, 22 years after first tasting success on the mountain, put him second on the all-time list of Mount Panorama wins, two behind the legendary Peter Brock as well as helping the popular driver finish fourth in his final season at the top level.

Earlier this year, the three-time Supercars champion was also inducted into the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame, an initiative of CAMS.

Following the announcement, Lowndes was proud to be named as one of the nine finalists for an award in honour of one of his sporting idols, Sir Donald Bradman.

“It is an incredible honour, he was one of the greatest athletes our country has seen,” Lowndes said.

“To be recognised as a finalist for such a prestigious award amongst Australian sporting greats - it makes me both proud to represent my sport of Supercars, but also my achievements during my career.

“To me, winning the Bathurst 1000 is the ultimate in our sport and one of Australia’s iconic sporting events. So to be a seven time winner is something I will always be extremely proud of.

“Growing up as a kid I was an avid cricket fan. I even still have my junior club cricket bat. Sir Donald Bradman is an icon of Australian sport who transcended all codes.

“His ability, sportsmanship and conduct on and off the field is something I have always looked up to.”

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Despite stepping down as a full time driver at the end of 2018, Lowndes will be back behind the wheel in 2019 as a part-time driver, teaming up with former teammate Jamie Whincup for this month’s iconic race.

The Don is an awarded each year to an athlete or team who has inspired the nation through their performances, reflecting the standards of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame’s first Inductee, Sir Donald Bradman.

Lowndes isn’t the first figure in motor sport to be nominated for the award, with 2018 seeing Daniel Ricciardo being acknowledged his Monaco Grand Prix victory and Will Power for taking out the Indianapolis 500.

The award forms part of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame’s prestigious Induction and Awards gala dinner taking place at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne on 10 October.