WHEN Steven Richards made the decision to leave a Bathurst 1000 winning outfit and switch to a new team it was a bold decision, but on Sunday afternoon at Mount Panorama his move was justified.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Two years after Richards helped Ford Performance Racing's Mark Winterbottom to his maiden Great Race win, he was back on the top tier of the Bathurst podium.
This time he stood alongside Red Bull Racing's Craig Lowndes.
It was the fourth Great Race win for Richards, who made his 22nd start in the 161-lap epic on Sunday.
"I had a huge highlight winning with Frosty [Winterbottom] and Ford Performance Racing and you take on a new challenge and you look for new pastures to challenge yourself and when the opportunity came up to drive with Craig, that seemed like a fantastic opportunity," Richards said.
"It refreshes and resets you and you work bloody hard to try and get that result."
Richards first moved to Red Bull Racing for the 2014 Enduro Cup, which encompasses the Sandown 500, Bathurst 1000 and Gold Coast 600 rounds.
That campaign did not bring the podiums many had expected, the duo placing fourth at Sandown and having to settle for 10th at Mount Panorama after a black flag late in the race.
That drive through penalty in last year's Bathurst 1000 cost the pair what had looked like a potential top three finish and Lowndes - who made the error when shunting Winterbottom up Mountain Straight - was keen to make amends.
"It didn't go to plan last year, I screwed up, and I wanted to make amends for Richo," Lowndes said.
"Richo is one of those quiet achievers who goes under the radar, but he did everything I needed and he needed.
"It was really important to get Steve's time up and laps up and with that we were still in touch with the leaders, which is exactly what we wanted.
"He stayed out of trouble and circulated with the leaders."
But Richards revealed after Sunday's win that he actually was in some strife.
"Actually I'm in a lot of trouble. Back in 2013 when I won with Frosty we didn't bring the kids up and this year because school holidays didn't fall in the right area they stayed at home," he said.
"They're absolutely dirty on me."
Richards said he is keen to stick with Lowndes next year and look to add to the duo's status as stars of the sport. Between them the pair have contested 1009 V8 Supercars Races, have 10 Bathurst 1000 wins and another 10 Great Race podiums.
"We make a pretty good team," Richards said after their win from 15th spot on the starting grid.
