Craig Lowndes to race Silverado ZR2 at Finke

Craig Lowndes will drive a Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 Off-Road Racer in this year’s Tatts Finke Desert Race. The three-time Supercars Champion will drive for Chevrolet Racing, the motorsport arm of General Motors Australia and New Zealand, which is partnering with GMSV for the event.

Lowndes’ navigator will be Dale Moscatt, who is highly experienced in the field of off-road racing, including multiple visits to Dakar and other signature events.

“This is Chevrolet Racing’s first foray into the world of Off-Road Racing and builds on other motorsport categories we compete in, including Supercars and Drag Racing,” said General Manager Chevrolet Racing Australia and New Zealand,” Chris Payne.

“It’s a natural fit for a vehicle such as the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2, which is already an accomplished all-terrain performer in its own right, as this provides an opportunity to showcase all-round capability and demonstrate multi-purpose off road prowess.”

The Off-Road Racer concept was built at the company’s Port Melbourne workshop by an enthusiastic group of GM employee volunteers with the involvement of Chevrolet Racing and competition partner Rampex, which will support the race effort at Finke.

Preparations included the exchange of learnings with GM Motorsports Division in the USA and tapping into the knowledge of Hall Racing, especially related to suspension development.

From small beginnings, the project grew into a fully-fledged team that came together to take on the Finke Desert Race.

“Extensive testing has proven this off-road racer is no slouch, but at the same time we’re under no illusions that this race is one of the toughest in the world and is going to be a real challenge for team and machine,” said Payne.

Lowndes said he is looking forward to swapping his ‘daily driver’ Silverado for the race prepared vehicle.

“I’m thrilled to be taking the Silverado to Finke. It’s been a while since I won the Australian Safari, which was way back in 2010; this is going to be a great test,’ he said.

“I drive a Silverado ZR2 every day and regularly put it through its paces off-road on weekends, as well as towing our caravan yearly to the Bathurst 1000. It covers impressive distances and handles Australian conditions so easily, now we’re out to prove its off-road capability.”

The Tatts Finke Desert Race will be held on June 7 to 10, with teams racing from Alice Springs to the settlement of Aputula (Finke) and back.

CHEVROLET SILVERADO ZR2 OFF-ROAD RACER SPECIFICATIONS:

●           Full national spec roll cage

●           Racetech seats

●           Sparco Harnesses

●           ZR2 Multimatic DSSV Shock absorbers, re-tuned for off road racing

●           Chevrolet Performance heavy duty driveshaft

●           AEV Bison underbody protection

●           35 Inch BF Goodrich KM3 tyres

Supporting GM brands:

●           GMSV

●           ACDelco

●           GM Certified Repairer Network

●           Chevrolet Performance Parts

●           GM Trade Parts

Supporting partners:

●           B&A Motor Body Repairs

●           Nelsigns

●           Kidd Suave

●           AEV

●           ToolPRO

●           The Creative Ones

●           BF Goodrich

●           Quadlock

●           Racer Industries

●           Hulk 4X4

●           Ignite Lighting