Supercars legend Craig Lowndes has revealed the frightening death threats he and fellow Australian motorsport great Mark Skaife received during one of the most intense periods of their careers. The shocking revelations have prompted fans to express their support for the pair, highlighting the disturbing consequences of an intense sporting rivalry turning into personal hostility.
Speaking on the Dos and D podcast, Lowndes revisited the backlash that followed his decision to leave Holden for rival manufacturer Ford in 2001. The move sent shockwaves through Australian touring car racing, where the rivalry between Holden and Ford was central to the sport’s identity. However, Lowndes revealed that the reaction went far beyond criticism from disappointed supporters, with threats serious enough to force him to take additional security precautions.
The former champion explained that the situation became so concerning that he needed a bodyguard to accompany him. His account has reopened conversations about the pressure motorsport personalities face when passionate fandom crosses the line into intimidation and threats of violence.
CRAIG LOWNDES REVEALS WHY HE NEEDED A BODYGUARD
Lowndes explained that his departure from Holden followed the breakdown of contract negotiations, allowing Ford to make an offer that persuaded him to switch sides. Although changing manufacturers was a professional decision, some fans struggled to accept the move because of his association with Holden.
According to Lowndes, Skaife contacted him after receiving information about threatening phone calls directed at the pair. The calls reportedly included threats to kill or shoot both drivers, creating fears that the situation could escalate beyond words.
Lowndes recalled that he was living on a farm at the time, where the entrance gate was some distance from his home. The threats were sufficiently concerning that he hired a bodyguard named Darryl Reid, whom he described as standing six feet eight inches tall.
Having someone accompany him offered an additional layer of security during a period when the threats could not simply be dismissed as angry comments from anonymous supporters.
The revelation provides a different perspective on Lowndes’ famous career. While fans often remember the victories, championships and fierce competition, his account shows that the personal consequences of high-profile sporting rivalries can sometimes extend well beyond the racetrack.
MARK SKAIFE FACED ANOTHER FRIGHTENING ENCOUNTER
Lowndes also described an alarming incident involving Skaife several years later. In 2007, Skaife required hospital treatment after suffering a ruptured appendix. According to Lowndes, the same individual responsible for the earlier threats subsequently claimed to have been the anaesthetist during Skaife’s operation and suggested he could have harmed him.
Police eventually tracked down the individual, who spent time in prison, Lowndes said.
However, the story did not end there. Lowndes recalled that Skaife later encountered the man again at Queensland Raceway, where the arrangement of the paddock meant drivers’ cars were accessible to members of the public.
Skaife was reportedly speaking with the individual beside his car when the man revealed that he was the person Skaife had helped send to prison. According to Lowndes’ account, Skaife immediately got into his vehicle and left.
The encounter illustrates how unsettling such a situation can be, particularly when a person who has previously made threats unexpectedly appears in a public setting.
Lowndes’ recollection also underlines the importance of taking threats seriously and ensuring that motorsport competitors can carry out their professional responsibilities without fearing for their personal safety.
FANS RALLY AROUND THE TWO MOTORSPORT ICONS
Following the revelation, fans took to social media to express sympathy for Lowndes and Skaife. Many were disturbed by the extent of the reported threats, while others questioned how anyone could become so emotionally invested in a sporting rivalry that they would target drivers personally.
One supporter expressed relief that neither man had been harmed, praising both as outstanding drivers. Another argued that people needed to maintain perspective and remember that motorsport rivalries should never justify threatening behaviour.
The reactions reflect a wider issue across professional sport. Supporters can feel deeply connected to a team, manufacturer or athlete, but that emotional investment should never become an excuse for intimidation, harassment or violence.
The Holden-Ford rivalry was a defining feature of Australian touring car racing for decades. Its intensity helped generate enormous interest in the championship, with fans passionately supporting their preferred manufacturer. But Lowndes’ experience shows the potential consequences when that passion becomes personal hostility.
THE HOLDEN-FORD RIVALRY THAT SHAPED SUPERCARS
Lowndes’ switch to Ford in 2001 was particularly significant because he had become closely associated with Holden. His move created a major storyline in Australian motorsport and placed him at the centre of one of the sport’s most recognisable rivalries.
Skaife, meanwhile, was another prominent Holden figure, and the pair had achieved considerable success together. Their connection made the reported threats against both drivers especially disturbing, given that the hostility extended beyond disagreement over a manufacturer’s racing fortunes.
Although the traditional Holden-versus-Ford battle has changed significantly, its historical importance remains central to Supercars’ identity. Rivalries have helped attract spectators, create memorable championship battles and build generations of loyal fans.
However, the sport’s competitive drama is best enjoyed when it remains on the track. Drivers changing teams, manufacturers competing for victories and fans passionately debating results are all part of motorsport. Threats against competitors are entirely different and can have serious consequences.
LOWNDES’ REVELATION SERVES AS A WARNING TO SPORTING FANS
Lowndes’ account is a reminder that the people involved in professional motorsport are more than the names and faces seen on television. They have families, homes and personal lives that can be affected when sporting hostility spills into the real world.
The fact that Lowndes felt the need to hire a bodyguard demonstrates the seriousness of the situation as he experienced it. Skaife’s reported encounters with the same individual add another disturbing dimension to the story.
For fans, the lesson is straightforward: supporting a driver or manufacturer should never mean threatening someone who chooses a different path. Sporting loyalty can create atmosphere, excitement and memorable competition, but it must remain separate from personal intimidation.
Lowndes and Skaife built their reputations through achievements that helped define Australian motorsport. Their latest revelations have drawn attention to a far less celebrated part of their careers, prompting supporters to reflect on the responsibilities that come with passionate fandom.
The most troubling part of Lowndes’ story is that a professional decision to change manufacturers reportedly became a source of serious personal threats. His account serves as a powerful reminder that no racing rivalry should ever put a driver’s safety at risk.
