Motorsport: Lowndes says Sydney 500 buzz 'unbeatable'

Craig Lowndes believes that this weekend's race could be the best chance yet for the V8 Supercars series to crack the Sydney market. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - V8 Supercar veteran Craig Lowndes says this weekend's Sydney 500 is easily turning into the biggest motor-racing event held in the city.

The Ford star has been a regular visitor to Sydney's Eastern Creek and Oran Park raceways since his debut V8 Supercar season in 1996.

But he says this weekend's two 250km races at the 3.4km Homebush street circuit represent the sport's best chance to crack a Sydney market which has proven tough to make a mark in for the championship.

"We all talk it up because it's very rare you go to a new track and it's a great opportunity to showcase V8 Supercars in a market that's, for us, very hard to break into," Lowndes said.

"It's a market with so much going on, people have got that much choice they don't have to go to the motor racing, but with the ticket sales and what's been going on we've got a great opportunity to showcase V8 Supercars."

The 35-year-old was emphatic when asked if this year's event represented the most excitement surrounding a V8 Supercar round he'd ever experienced in his career.

"Oh, for sure. In Sydney? No doubt about it," he said.

"Everything leading into it, everywhere we've been, everyone's been talking about it. The media have been right behind it which has been fantastic, that's what we need."

The TeamVodafone driver said the challenge now is to better the crowd numbers and entertainment created at this year's other new event, the Townsville 400 in July which attracted over 165,000 fans across the three days.

"From what I understand the ticket sales are up over 140,000 now and we're hoping to eclipse what Townsville achieved," he said.

"That'll be a great sign for us, especially here in Sydney, with that level of support."

- AAP