Lowndes sets fastest lap at Surfers

The five-time Bathurst winner toured the circuit in his Holden Statesman before the road is closed to the public today, setting a time of three minutes, 25 seconds amid the tourist traffic, red lights and construction workers.

"We used to do about one minute 52 seconds around here on the longer track, but I reckon this shorter circuit will shave about 40 seconds off the time so the fans will see the cars go by more often," the reigning Bathurst champion said.

The circuit was revised from 4.47km to 2.8km to reduce the construction and dismantling time by five weeks and lessen the impact on residents.  Lowndes surveyed the circuit and noticed several changes such as resurfacing and widening of the track which he said would make it better for the drivers.

"They appear to have widened the main straight by pushing the concrete barriers back which will make the approach to the first chicane straighter allowing passing under brakes," he said.

The second chicane has been replaced by a hairpin, first-gear left, followed by a short straight and a left kink on to the beach straight.

"On the exit of the new turn two they've opened it up so you can pass by lunging under brakes and then doing a switchback coming out of the corner," he said.

Lowndes approved of the resurfacing in several areas of the track including the main straight, the northern corners and the new southern section.

"They appear to have laid thicker bitumen patches where the load-bearing tyre will be, so the grip will be better and the track shouldn't break up as easily," he said.  Although the track has been shortened, Lowndes said the top speed of 260km/h on the main straight would remain.

Team Vodafone has given its drivers a head start on the new track by preparing a computer simulator.  Jeromy Moore, race engineer for Lowndes, said the drivers would practise on the simulator and walk the track today to familiarise themselves with the new corners before they drive the circuit.