V8 SUPERCARS veteran Craig Lowndes will miss the Bathurst 12 Hour after sustaining injuries in a motorbike crash.
Lowndes suffered a broken collarbone and other minor injuries in a fall while riding with friends and family on Sunday.
The 41-year-old, who won the Bathurst 1000 and was Triple Eight’s leading driver in the V8 Supercars championship battle last year, will undergo surgery on the broken collarbone to speed up his recovery.
The aim is to ensure he will be fit to test in late February, when he will drive his new Caltex TeamVortex-sponsored Commodore for the first time.
“Obviously I’m very disappointed to be missing the (Bathurst) 12 Hour but my focus is on being fully recovered and ready to go for the V8 Supercar season, which I am on course to do,” he said.
Lowndes was scheduled to race a Melbourne Performance Centre Audi R8-LMS with V8 Supercars rival Garth Tander and Steve McLaughlin in the GT sportscar event at Mount Panorama on February 7.
“We’re obviously disappointed that we won’t be able to have Craig’s huge talent and experience in the Jamec-Pem Racing Audi R8 this February, but his recovery is clearly the priority,” Melbourne Performance Centre’s Troy Russell said.
“We’re working on securing a suitable replacement that will ensure that entry remains extremely competitive. The process is already underway and we hope to announce the new driver soon.
“We’re wishing Craig all the best in his recovery.”
