The 1996 Australian Touring Car Championship season heralded a changing of the guard at the top of the title thanks to the injection of Craig Lowndes.
’The Kid’ as coined by Mike Raymond went onto blitz the veterans of the ATCC in 1996 to take the title and it all started at Eastern Creek under lights on January 25-27.
Lowndes has been skirting the perimeter of the touring car field for little more than a season after receiving his chance at the 1994 Bathurst 1000, taking second alongside Brad Jones where the young upstart surprised John Bowe in snatching the lead in the closing stages.
After sitting on the sidelines during 1995 apart from testing, the endurance events and a guest slot at the final Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide, Lowndes was off the leash in 1996.
Partnering mentor Peter Brock in the Holden Racing Team, which was about to become the dominant force in Australian motorsport.
Another key change was the abolishment of tobacco sponsorship effecting front running teams Glenn Seton Racing and Gibson Motorsport.
In the case of GSR, Peter Jackson elected to take its money to Alan Jones’ new operation spearheaded by Jim and Ross Stone under Pack Leader Racing, with Seton gaining support from Ford Credit. Gibson Motorsport on the other hand ran a VR Commodore devoid of stickers at Round 1.
Other arrivals included privateers Steve Ellery, John Faulkner and Steve Richards, the latter for Garry Rogers Motorsport, Russell Ingall in a second Perkins Engineering Commodore and sprint car ace Max Dumsney.
Using the shortened 2.8km Eastern Creek layout, reigning champion Bowe set pole from Brock, Seton and Lowndes.
It was Wayne Gardner in the Coca-Cola Racing VR Commodore making the best start to be second from sixth in the opening stages behind Brock as Bowe recovered to be third ahead of Lowndes.
Gardner’s edge began to disappear as first Bowe then Lowndes demoted the previous World 500cc Motorcycle Championship winner down to fourth.
The race was turned upside down when Brock spun at Turn 2 from a comfortable lead elevating Bowe into the lead from Lowndes, Seton and Gardner.
Bowe took the opening race win of the weekend fighting off Lowndes, Seton and Gardner.
As the twilight descended on Eastern Creek, Race 2 got underway as Lowndes made the perfect start to lead from Bowe, Gardner after jumping the start, Seton, Brock and Skaife, however not for long.
Brock and Skaife collided heavily exiting Turn 2 as both attacked Seton leading to both VR Commodores being severely damaged.
Lowndes meanwhile was very much the last man standing as Bowe spun, Seton incurred damage leaving Neil Crompton in second for Coca-Cola Racing and Ingall third.
The lights were switched on for the final race as Lowndes once again made a storming start to hold a comfortable advantage at the end of the opening lap from Crompton and Ingall.
Lowndes again led from start-to-finish to secure the round victory on ATCC debut from Gardner and Seton in the finale.
Gardner was second for the round in what was his team’s best result to date.
The ATCC moved quickly as it headed to Sandown the next weekend for Round 2 where yet again it was Lowndes sealing victory on home turf.