Craig Lowndes will join Top Gear stars Jeremy Clarkson and James May to co-host the television show’s Festival at Sydney Motorsport Park from March 8-9.
In what is being billed as his live commentating debut, Lowndes will co-host the event alongside the British stars and local media talent Shane Jacobson and Steve Pizzati.
Lowndes will also be involved in several on-track activities including an ‘Ashes’ version of Top Gear’s famous ‘car football’ and drifting exhibitions.
“To be able to host alongside Clarkson and May will be quite exciting,” Lowndes told Speedcafe.com.
“Last year through the Red Bull side of it we were involved with the ‘fish-out-water’ when I drove a Superbike and Casey Stoner drove the V8 Supercar in a three-lap dash.
“I really enjoyed that side of it, doing something completely different to what you are used to. Hopefully they come up with some other weird and whacky idea of doing something similar.”
The Top Gear Festival activities for Lowndes comes amid a hectic start to his year which will begin in the Bathurst 12 Hour in February followed by the V8 Supercars official test day and the Clipsal 500.
Australia’s F1 star Daniel Ricciardo, who takes compatriot Mark Webber’s spot at Red Bull next season, will take to the track in a Red Bull Formula 1 car.
Perhaps the biggest coup of the meeting is the presence of one of the most iconic grand prix cars of all-time, the almost invincible McLaren MP 4/4, which pays tribute to the memory of Ayrton Senna almost 20 years after his tragic death.
