The Four-time Bathurst champion Craig Lowndes is hoping a strong finish to the season can provide a platform back on to the V8 Supercars Championship podium next year
The Triple Eight Racing driver is already out of contention for this year's title and would need a minor miracle to displace Jamie Whincup, Mark Winterbottom or Garth Tander from the top three with only three rounds to go.
But after topping practice at the Desert 400 in Bahrain today, fourth-placed Lowndes - who stormed to his fourth Bathurst win last month - says he feels he was turning the corner from an indifferent year just in time to prepare for a fresh start in 2009.
