Craig Lowndes on RamHydrate: The Drink System in Every Gen3 Supercar at Bathurst 2026

Craig Lowndes lines up for his 33rd consecutive Bathurst 1000 this weekend, moving past Peter Brock into second on the race's all-time starts list. He shares the #15 Supercheap Auto Chevrolet Camaro with Bayley Hall for Team 18, and like every Gen3 Supercar on the Mount Panorama grid, the car carries RamHydrate: the control drink system for the Supercars Championship, designed and built by Rampage Race Products at Queensland Raceway.

We filmed with Craig and Team 18 in the lead-up to the Great Race. Here is Craig on driver hydration, the cockpit environment and the drink system he relies on.

Craig Lowndes at Bathurst: the numbers

Why driver hydration decides endurance races

A Bathurst 1000 runs for more than six hours. Drivers complete long stints in a closed cockpit, wearing a multi-layer fireproof suit, helmet and HANS device, while managing a 600-plus horsepower car on one of the most demanding circuits in the world. Fluid lost through sweat is fluid the driver has to replace in the car, during the stint.

Staying hydrated keeps reaction time, concentration and decision-making sharp in the final laps, which is exactly when Bathurst is won. That is why every professional team treats the drink system as race-critical equipment, alongside the radio and the cool suit. Read more in our guide to the science behind hydration in motorsport.

What a control drink system means for Supercars

A control part is one specification fitted to every car in the field. For the Supercars Championship that brings three clear benefits:

• Every driver gets the same proven hardware. One system, developed for the Gen3 cockpit and validated across the whole grid.
• Every crew services it the same way. Bottle changes, connections and spares are identical from garage to garage, which keeps pit-lane procedures fast and predictable.
• Reliability is proven at scale. A full field running the same system through every round, including the enduros, is the toughest test a drink system can get.

Inside the RamHydrate Supercar/GT3 drink system

The RamHydrate Supercar/GT3 Drink System is the same system the Supercars grid races with. The kit includes:

• Custom-fit main housing and pump unit, designed to integrate cleanly into the car.
• Double-wall vacuum-insulated 1.25 L bottles that keep drinks cool through long stints, with a quick-change system for fast bottle swaps.
• Insulated drink hose to keep the line cool from bottle to helmet.
• Adjustable mount to suit a wide range of mounting positions.
• Deutsch plug wiring connection for simple, motorsport-standard electrical integration.
• Custom one-way valve to stop unwanted siphoning.

Pair it with RamConnect quick-release radio and drink connections so drivers connect in a single movement during driver changes. Our article on quick-release vs traditional drink connections explains the time it saves in the pits.

Fit the same drink system to your race car

RamHydrate is built for Supercars and runs across GT3, GT4, Porsche Carrera Cup, endurance racing and club motorsport worldwide. Choose the kit made for your car:

• Supercar/GT3 Drink System
• Porsche 991/992 Drink System Kit
• Ferrari 296/488/458 Drink System Kit
• McLaren GT3/GT4 Drink System Kit
• AMG Mercedes GT3/GT4 Drink System Kit
• Production/Stock Car Drink System

Browse the full range in our race car drink systems collection.

Watch the full Team 18 series

This is part one of a three-part series filmed with Team 18:

1. Craig Lowndes on RamHydrate (this article)
2. The engineering view: what an ex-McLaren F1 engineer looks for in a race car drink system
3. How to install a race car drink system: Team 18 Gen3 Supercar fit-out

Subscribe on YouTube and follow @rampage.store_ for more from the pit lane.

FAQ

Does every Gen3 Supercar use the same drink system?

Yes. RamHydrate is the control drink system for Gen3 Supercars, so every car on the grid runs it, including at the Bathurst 1000.

How long is the Bathurst 1000?

The race covers 161 laps of the 6.213 km Mount Panorama circuit, roughly 1,000 km, and typically runs for more than six hours.

Can I fit a Supercars drink system to my GT3, GT4 or Porsche Cup car?

Yes. The Supercar/GT3 kit suits GT3 cars, and dedicated kits are available for Porsche 991/992, Ferrari, McLaren, AMG and production cars.

How much does a RamHydrate bottle hold?

Each double-wall vacuum-insulated bottle holds 1.25 litres, and the quick-change design lets crews swap bottles during a pit stop.

Where is RamHydrate made?

RamHydrate is designed and built by Rampage Race Products at Queensland Raceway, Australia, and ships worldwide.

Ready to race with the same system as the Supercars grid? Shop the RamHydrate Supercar/GT3 Drink System or call us on +61 435 729 687 for help choosing the right kit for your car.