Supercars great Mark Skaife says the lack of an endurance lead-up event this year will only boost Craig Lowndes' chances of moving a step closer to Peter Brock's legendary Bathurst 1000 record on Sunday.
All eyes will be on Lowndes at Mount Panorama this week when the 45-year-old returns to racing for the first time since retiring from full-time driving last year.
Lowndes will move into the secondary co-driver role after teaming up with Holden's record seven-time series champion Jamie Whincup for the endurance rounds, starting with the Bathurst 1000.
But Lowndes was still expected to feel plenty of pressure as defending champion after moving to equal second on the all-time Bathurst winners list with his seventh Great Race triumph last year, trailing his idol Brock by just two victories.