Craig Lowndes has won back-to-back V8 Supercars races in Tasmania to put him within touching distance of a historic milestone.

Lowndes needs just one victory to become the first man to win 100 V8 Supercars races.

On Saturday’s evidence, that win could come as soon as Sunday’s 200km race at Symmons Plains Raceway.

The 40-year-old showed pace unmatched by the field in both qualifying and racing, winning both races from pole position.

He was too fast for second-placed Mark Winterbottom and James Courtney in race one, then over teammate Jamie Whincup and Courtney in the second 60km race.

Lowndes’ domination of the rural Tasmanian circuit came after Friday’s dirty day in practice.

The five-time Bathurst winner found himself on the grass and gravel several times as he struggled to find balance in his Commodore.

But he recovered in champion style and thoroughly enjoyed his podium moments.

Kiwi 19-year-old Andre Heimgartner was unable to cash in on his fifth-placed starting position, running off the track at the hairpin turn four on the fourth lap.

Countryman Scott McLaughlin came back from the dead, with his Volvo pit crew replacing a busted engine that caused a DNF in race one, to claim ninth place in race two.