Fresh from dismissing a report of his retirement, Supercars veteran Craig Lowndes has an eye on 700 race starts.
The Holden legend hit back an article, suggesting he was pulling the pin from full-time racing at the end of 2019.
Lowndes, 43, is edging closer towards the end of a decorated career but says he’s yet to make a decision about when the curtain will fall.
The six-time Bathurst 1000 winner is contracted until the end of next year.
Already the record holder for most race starts in Supercars history, his 650th comes on Sunday at the Winton Supersprint.
Even when Lowndes does retire from the tour, he will continue in the endurance events – which includes Bathurst.
« We’ll finish off this year, we might go into next year and we might get it next year … hopefully, it’s a reality, » Lowndes said.
« It’d be nice to be in the 700 bracket at the end of my career. »
Lowndes struggled to 10th in last year’s championship, winning just one race prompting fears his Supercars days could be over.
But he has emerged as a surprise outside contender for this season’s title, jumping to fourth in the standings after a podium in the second race of the Perth Supersprint.
Lowndes faces the huge task of knocking off leader Scott McLaughlin, with the Ford ace heading to regional Victoria on the back of four-straight race victories.
McLaughin is aiming to become the first Supercars driver since Jamie Whincup in 2008 to win five in a row.
Ten years ago, Whincup went on to claim seven-consecutive races en route to his first championship.
http://www.espn.com/v8-supercars/story/_/id/23521691/craig-lowndes-eyeing-700-supercars-starts
