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It’s not often Craig Lowndes gets overshadowed at Mount Panorama, but that’s what happens when you face off with a Formula One champion.
The five-times Bathurst winner, revered by the Mt Panorama faithful, managed to smash his own V8 track record by more than 15 seconds when driving in an F1 car on Tuesday.
But Lowndes could only play second-fiddle to 2009 F1 champion Jenson Button, who polished off the iconic track in a blistering time of one minute, 48 seconds – a full second clear of the local on just his second lap.
The Maclaren man became the first driver to take on the notoriously tricky track in an F1 race car – with Lowndes following soon after.
The 31-year-old Button, who grew up watching the Bathurst races with his father John, then switched it up and jumped behind the wheel of Lowndes’ powerful V8.
“These guys are crazy – they really are,” Button said of the V8 drivers.
“I didn’t expect so much grip (when driving the V8)… it took me a while to get used to it.
“I haven’t hammered a car over kerbs like that for 12 years so it was a new experience for me and something I’ve missed.
“(At the top of the mountain) I was holding on tight all the way. It takes everything out of you.
“It was the experience I’ve wanted to have for many years and I’ve finally done it. In a way it’s probably not a good thing because it’s made me more hungry to come back.”
Not to be outdone, Lowndes nearly won the crowd back with his own scorching time in the the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-2.
“It’s extremely satisfying to drive a car that’s purpose built for speed and precision,” Lowndes said.
Things get decidedly more serious this weekend for Button when he takes aim at Michael Schumacher’s record of three consecutive Australian Grand Prix victories in Melbourne.
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