Steven Richards credited the ‘luck of the Irish’ for helping the Autobarn Lowndes Racing Holden he shared with Craig Lowndes secure the PIRTEK Enduro Cup on Sunday. Overall victory in the three-event contest added to the recent Bathurst triumph for Triple Eight’s third car, which is engineered by Irishman John McGregor.
Lowndes and Richards went into Sunday’s race needing only a 14th-place finish, even if nearest rivals Scott McLaughlin/Alex Premat won to take the enduro title. Richards, however, had a tough opening stint, falling from third to sixth by lap 24, and then spinning Warren Luff at Turn 4 four laps later. That incident and a later pitlane release that sent Lowndes straight into the path of Garth Tander were both under investigation when the race was abandoned due to a storm. With no result declared or points awarded, Lowndes and Richards were assured the Enduro Cup title – a first for Richards and second for Lowndes, who won with Luff in 2013.
