Craig Lowndes’ 2016 season was a reminder that experience, racecraft and determination could still match outright speed. In a year that brought major changes to Triple Eight Race Engineering—with Shane van Gisbergen joining the team and Lowndes moving into the newly-created third entry—he quietly produced one of the strongest campaigns of his later career. While much of the spotlight fell on the championship battle between Jamie Whincup and van Gisbergen, Lowndes remained a constant front-runner, finishing fourth in the championship with two race victories, numerous podiums and another trademark display of consistency.
His first victory came at Perth, where a bold strategy call from engineer Ludo Lacroix transformed an ordinary afternoon into a memorable win. Armed with fresher tyres and perfect execution, Lowndes carved his way through the field with clinical precision, proving that patience and racecraft could still overcome outright pace. It was a vintage Lowndes performance and reinforced why he remained one of the smartest racers in pit lane.
He followed that with another impressive victory at Queensland Raceway. Starting from third on the grid, Lowndes made a lightning start, sweeping past both Chaz Mostert and pole-sitter Jamie Whincup on the opening lap before controlling the race from the front. The victory was the 105th championship race win of his career and demonstrated that, even in his 40s, he remained one of the category’s finest competitors when the opportunity presented itself.
The season also marked a major milestone as Lowndes became the first driver to reach 600 championship starts, further cementing his place among the sport’s all-time greats. Week after week he remained in contention, regularly converting solid qualifying performances into strong race finishes through consistency, tyre management and race intelligence rather than outright aggression. His ability to maximise every opportunity kept him firmly inside the championship’s leading group throughout the year.
Bathurst provided one of the toughest moments of the campaign. Partnering long-time co-driver Steven Richards, Lowndes was firmly in contention before a gearbox actuator issue cost the pair several laps while repairs were carried out in pit lane. Rather than retiring, the team fought on for the remainder of the race, ultimately finishing 16th after completing 156 of the 161 laps. While the result fell well short of their ambitions, it showcased the determination of both drivers and the Triple Eight crew to salvage valuable championship points from what had looked like a race-ending setback.
Although the championship ultimately belonged to new teammate Shane van Gisbergen, Lowndes finished 2016 with plenty to celebrate. Fourth in the standings, two race victories, multiple podium finishes and another Fans’ Choice Award reinforced why he remained one of Supercars’ most respected competitors. In a season of significant change for Triple Eight, Craig Lowndes once again proved that experience, racecraft and relentless consistency could still deliver outstanding results against the very best in the sport.
