Australian MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner would have a future in V8 Supercars, if in fact that is his chosen path.
One of V8 Supercars' most decorated Craig Lowndes said Stoner has the ability and the grit to handle fulltime racing in one of the world’s most competitive four wheel categories.
“I think he would be a great asset to the world of V8 Supercars but it’s really his choice,” Lowndes said having finished second to TeamVodafone team-mate Jamie Whincup and The Bottle-O Racing David Reynolds at the Phillip Island 300 today.
“He has got a big year in front of him now he has made an announcement quite early on.”
Stoner has been a keen follower of V8 Supercars for many years and has test driven Lowndes’ 888 Falcon.
“When he drove the car he was very good in a lot of areas. His focus and determination on trying to be fast was really good,” Lowndes said.
“In the slow sections of the track he was on par with Jamie and I from the outset. On the high speed sections he took a little longer to get to grips with but eventually got to that point. His feel and his ability, knowledge and what he wants from the car is very good.
“He would crossover pretty well, it’s just a matter of what he wants to do.”
Lowndes said Stoner, still only 26, definitely had the drive to compete.
“He is an avid follower,” said Lowndes.
“If you look at his twitter he follows what we are doing every race weekend no matter where we are or he is around the world. He follows V8s very seriously and tells Jamie and I what he thinks is wrong with the car. He is very passionate about racing and the V8 Supercars.
“The bike guys seem to crossover pretty well. He was very determined and very focused when he drove with us. He got out at the end and was very satisfied.”
Whincup continued his Championship leading form when fastest of the fulltime practice sessions today, two weeks after being ‘pissed off’ with his performance at the Trading Post Challenge in Perth.
“We have traditionally been a little slow out of the truck in recent rounds and had to play catch-up. It’s positive to come here and be quick lap one and again this afternoon,” Whincup said.
TeamVodafone duo Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes were half a second clear of their rivals in the 20-minute Practice 2 session this afternoon at the sweeping Victorian layout.
The pace of the reigning Teams Champions of the V8 Supercars Championship was evident, with Whincup recording a 1m33.2866s to continue on from the fastest time recorded by his car – with enduro pilot Paul Dumbrell at the helm - in the previous session.
Reynolds was the only driver to challenge in the final practice session, coming in third late in the 20-minute period.
Reynolds set his fastest lap on the final lap of the session, which restarted with just a matter of moments remaining on the clock after a red flag stopped the session.
The Falcon pilot out-paced Jack Daniel’s Racing’s Todd Kelly, Team BOC’s Jason Bright, TeamVodafone’s Whincup and Tradingpost FPR Ford’s Will Davison.
The V8 Supercars return to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit tomorrow for Practice 4 at 10.10am with qualifying at 1.25pm and Race 10 of the championship (over 32 laps) at 4.00pm.
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