Coming into the Gold Coast 600 weekend, there were 12 teams in mathematical contention, but it was Craig Lowndes and co-driver Warren Luff who left Surfers Paradise as the newly-crowned inaugural PIRTEK Enduro Cup winners.
After starting the event second in the Enduro Cup standings, victory on Saturday gave the Red Bull Racing Australia duo Lowndes and Luff a healthy lead over team mate and fellow PIRTEK Enduro Cup contenders Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell.
Even so, the Championship within a Championship was still wide open ahead of the second 300km race with four combinations still in the running. The #888 car still had to avoid a crash with Scott Pye and double stacking in the pits before a strong final stint to eighth place at the chequered flag assured Lowndes and Luff of the win in the race for the Cup and maintained Lowndes’ slim lead in the V8 Supercars Championship.
“It was one of those days with near misses for everybody,” Lowndes said.
“With a bit of good fortune and luck we managed to finish strong, get those crucial championship points and hold onto our lead.
“To bring home the Pirtek Enduro Cup is an incredible feeling and full credit to Luffy and all of the team for making that happen.
“It was fantastic to win this inaugural version with Warren. I think the concept from the Queensland artist that created the trophy is a unique one, which makes it a little more valuable.”
The PIRTEK Enduro Cup, created by Queensland artist James Corbett, was presented to Lowndes and Luff by PIRTEK CEO, Stephen Dutton.
PIRTEK Enduro Cup Points Standings:
1. 888 Craig Lowndes / Warren Luff 753
2. 1 Jamie Whincup / Paul Dumbrell 687
3. 5 Mark Winterbottom / Steve Richards 672
4. 6 Will Davison / Steve Owen 630
5. 4 Lee Holdsworth / Craig Baird 537
6. 66 Russell Ingall / Ryan Briscoe 507
7. 55 David Reynolds / Dean Canto 504
8. 2 Garth Tander / Nick Percat 453
9. 97 Shane van Gisbergen / Jeroen Bleekemolen 444
10. 14 Fabian Coulthard / Luke Youlden 435
11. 33 Scott McLaughlin / Jack Perkins 429
12. 19 Jonathon Webb / Marc Lieb 393
13. 22 James Courtney / Greg Murphy 372
14. 15 Rick Kelly / Karl Reindler 372
15. 12 Chaz Mostert / Dale Wood 360
16. 34 Alexandre Premat / Greg Ritter 354
17. 18 Alex Davison / John McIntyre 351
18. 8 Jason Bright / Andrew Jones 336
19. 21 David Wall / Chris Pither 330
20. 80 Scott Pye / Paul Morris 297
21. 3 Tony D’Alberto / Jonny Reid 294
22. 360 James Moffat / Taz Douglas 252
23. 47 Tim Slade / David Brabham 249
24. 9 Maro Engel / Steven Johnson 225
25. 17 Tim Blanchard / Ash Walsh 225
26. 36 Michael Caruso / Daniel Gaunt 222
27. 7 Todd Kelly / David Russell 219
28. 88 Dean Fiore / Matthew Halliday 201
29. 10 Andy Priaulx / Mattias Ekstrom 156
