Craig Lowndes to race at Spa 24 Hour

By: Scott Murray

Date: 02.04.2014

Craig Lowndes to race at Spa 24 Hour

Craig Lowndes to race at Spa 24 Hour

Craig Lowndes to race at Spa 24 Hour

Craig Lowndes to race at Spa 24 Hour

Lowndes' 'dream come true' for this year's 24 Hour endurance race in a Ferrari 458...

News: Craig Lowndes to race at Spa 24 Hour

Craig Lowndes to race at Spa 24 Hour

V8 Supercars Bathurst and Championship winner Craig Lowndes is set to race at his first Spa 24 Hour endurance race this year in an AF Corse-prepared Ferrari 458.

Australian GT category race team Maranello Motorsport has organised the venture that will see Lowndes co-drive with fellow Aussie Steve Wyatt and two other yet to be announced.

Lowndes says the team’s victory in February’s Bathurst 12 Hour, as reported in Unique Cars, was something special and set the stage for Spa.

"I’ve driven at Spa before and it’s an incredible track," said Lowndes, who raced at the famous Belgian track in F3000 during 1997.

"I’ve been wanting to do more GT racing in Europe for a number of years, so to finally have such a great event locked in for 2014 is very exciting. The combination of a Ferrari and the Spa circuit really is a dream come true" he said.

The 2013 V8 Supercar runner-up says he’s prepared for the massive task that lies ahead with a 24-hour event.

"Unlike Le Mans, there are no prototypes at Spa, so we will be outright contenders in the 458. But it will still obviously be a massive challenge, as a lot can happen going flat out around a place like Spa for 24 hours."

Lowndes admits that other famous endurance races were considered but didn’t time well with his V8 Supercar commitments.

"It’s no secret we did look at the option of doing the Le Mans 24 Hour this year, but other commitments were making that prospect quite difficult.

"The timing of Spa works perfectly around the V8 Supercar calendar and gives us a good opportunity to build something big for next year. It’s the perfect scenario, really!"

The event is scheduled for July 26-27, in between the Townsville and Ipswich V8 Supercar rounds.

Lowndes won the hard-fought Bathurst 12 Hour event in a Maranello-prepared 458 alongside Finland’s Mika Salo, former Bathurst and V8 Supercar Championship winner John Bowe and part-owner Peter Edwards.

2013 Spa 24 Hour winners were HTP Motorsport, who finished 0.4 seconds behind Craig Lowndes and the Maranello Motorsport Ferrari entry in this year’s Bathurst 12 Hour.

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