Jamie and Craig have kicked off their 2015 Clipsal 500 Adelaide campaign with a race of a different kind as they took on members of the public in a pit stop challenge in South Australia’s famous Rundle Mall.
The streets packed with a lunchtime audience, two lucky fans were chosen from the crowd to join the No.1 and No.888 Holden drivers as they put their rattle gun skills to the test in a head-to-head battle to see who could change a tyre the fastest.
Six-time V8 Supercars champion JDub reported that this unconventional method of preparation had its benefits: “Usually it’s the pit stop crew getting all the practice, but this definitely helps to get our eye for the races, which is especially important on a street circuit like Adelaide where accuracy is key. Lowndesy and I go alright!”
As the winner of the inaugural event in 1999 and one of only two drivers in this year’s line-up to have competed in every single one since, Lowndesy knows a slick pit stop can make or break a race.
“We won’t be quitting our day jobs, that’s for sure,” he said. “It’s always good fun to see how we go with a rattle gun and today’s been a great opportunity to get the fans involved as well.”
The V8 Supercars hit the track on Friday for three practice sessions and qualifying for Saturday’s two 125km races, with the gruelling 250km mini marathon following on Sunday.