While having made attempts to take part in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, Craig Lowndes has instead landed a drive in the 24 Hours of Spa , as the V8 Supercars star confirmed this week a deal with AF Corse.
The 39-year-old, who won February’s Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour in a Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, will join fellow Australian Steve Wyatt and a pair of to-be-determined co-drivers in the Italian squad.
“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,” Lowndes said. “The combination of a Ferrari and the Spa circuit really is a dream come true.”
Lowndes is no stranger to Spa-Francorchamps, having raced the famed Belgian circuit in F3000 in 1997. Since then, he’s become one of the most successful V8 drivers in history, with three series titles and five Bathurst 1000 victories.
“The timing of Spa works perfectly around the V8 Supercar calendar this year and gives us a good opportunity to build something big for next year,” he added.
“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.”
Reigning Asian Le Mans Series champion Wyatt is taking on a full-season campaign in the FIA World Endurance Championship with AF Corse in addition to the Spa 24 program.
LOWNDES TO SPA 24 Hr
Image Joel Strickland Photographics