It made sense with the new (fantastic) regulations and it became reality yesterday. Mark Skaife and Craig Lowndes will join up in the enduro rounds at Phillip Island and Bathurst, with (perhaps surprisingly) Steve Owen partnering Jamie Whincup. Lowndes and Skaife drove for the factory Holden team between 1998 and 2000, winning all three championships between them.
The five-time Bathurst winner said it wasn't a hard decision:
“When I announced my full-time retirement at the end of 2008, I said that I was going to leave the enduros open.
“I did the enduros with Greg Murphy last year. I really enjoyed them. It was a fantastic experience and you make sure you go back to those races and do a good job.
“Then the offer come up to come and join Craig Lowndes at TeamVodafone. I didn’t have to think about it too much, because it was a great opportunity.”
“It would be great to do it [win Bathurst]. One of the things about me joining him is that he can’t beat me if we’re together! There’s a bit of science in that!
“We know it’s a tough event. We know it’s the grand final of Australian motorsport, but certainly one that you don’t need too much extra motivation.
“We’ve been close rivals, strong rivals over a long period of time, but we’ve also been team-mates.
“We get along pretty well, and the last time we drove together was 2000 and Lowndesy obviously went across to the dark side for a while – he was with Ford – but he’s back with Holden, which facilitates an act for me to comeback and drive with him.
“I’m really excited. When know what we both like from the car and the team’s very, very good. I’m looking forward to it.”
The 2010 TeamVodafone livery was also revealed at the same time as the announcement of the enduro drivers.
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